Syntheses of new Mo(II) and W(II) mono(hydrosulfido) complexes and their conversion into di- and tetranuclear sulfido-bridged heterobimetallic complexes

Treatment of Cp′MH(CO)₃] (M = Mo, W; Cp′ = η⁵-C₅H₅ (Cp), η⁵-C₅Me₅ (Cp*)) with 1/8 equiv of S₈ in THF, followed by the reaction with dppe under UV irradiation, gave new mono(hydrosulfido) complexes Cp′M(SH)(CO)(dppe)] (Cp′ = Cp: M = Mo (5), W (6); Cp′ = Cp*: M = Mo (7), W (8); dppe = Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂). When 5 and 6 dissolved in THF were allowed to react with RhCl(PPh₃)₃] in the presence of base, heterodinuclear complexes with bridging S and dppe ligands CpM(CO)(μ-S)(μ-dppe)Rh(PPh₃)] (M = Mo (9), W(10)) were obtained. Semi-bridging feature of the CO ligands were also demonstrated. Upon standing in CH₂Cl₂ solutions, 9 and 10 were converted further to the dimerization products (CpM)₂{Rh(dppe)}₂(μ₂-CO)₂(μ₃-S)₂] (M = Mo (13), W). Detailed structures of mononuclear 7 and 8, dinuclear 9 and tetranuclear 13 have been determined by the X-ray diffraction.