Synthesis and Structures of Homoleptic Methyl‐ and Phenylthiomethylaluminium Complexes [Al(CH2SR)3](R = Me,Ph)

Sulfur‐substituted methylmercury compounds [Hg(CH₂SR)₂]( 1a, R = Me; 1b, R = Ph ) react with aluminium amalgam in refluxing toluene with transmetallation to give homoleptic tris(thiomethyl)aluminium complexes [Al(CH₂SR)₃]( 2a, R = Me; 2b, R = Ph ) (degree of conversion: >80%, isolated yields: 2a 63%, 2b 41%). Their identities were confirmed by NMR spectros‐copy (¹H, ¹³C) and X‐ray crystal structure analyses. In crystals of compound 2a the aluminium atoms possess a trigonal‐bipyramidal arrangement with the coordination polyhedron defined by three carbon and two sulfur atoms. Two of the three CH₂SMe ligands are bridging ligands (μ‐η²; 1kC:2kS), the third one is terminal bound (η¹; kC). The structure is polymeric. Crystals are threaded by helical chains built up of six‐membered Al₂C₂S₂ rings. Crystals of 2b are built up of centrosymmetrical dimers with six‐membered Al₂C₂S₂ rings having bridging CH₂SPh ligands (μ‐η²; 1kC:2kS). On each Al atom two terminal (η¹; kC)CH₂SPh ligands are bound. They exhibit quite different Al‐C‐S angles (116.7(4) and 106.5(3)?). Similar values (114.32115.7? and 109.52109.9?) were found in ab initio calculations of model compounds [{Al(CH₂SR)₃}₂]( 3a, R=H; 3b, R=Me; 3c, R=CH=CH₂ ). A conformational energy diagram for rotation of one of the terminal CH₂SH ligand in the parent compound 3a around the Al‐C bond is discussed in terms of repulsive interactions of lone electron pairs of sulfur atoms.