New anionic and dianionic polydentate systems featuring ancillary phosphinosulfides as ligands in coordination chemistry and catalysis

This article provides an overview of the chemistry of monoanionic S–P–S and dianionic S–C–S ligands featuring two phosphinosulfide ligands as pendant groups. These new pincer-type structures are easily assembled from phosphinines and the bis-sulfide derivative of the bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, respectively. Monoanionic S–P–S pincer ligands easily coordinate group 10 and group 9 metal fragments through displacement reactions. Palladium(II) complexes of S–P–S ligands efficiently catalyze cross-coupling processes, allowing the formation of boronic esters and biphenyl derivatives. Rh(I) complexes of S–P–S ligands react in a regioselective way with small molecules (O₂, SO₂, CS₂, MeI) to afford the corresponding Rh(I) or Rh(III) derivatives. S–C–S dianonic ligands, which are readily obtained through a bis-metallation at the central carbon atom of Ph₂P(S)CH₂P(S)Ph₂, react with Pd(II) and Ru(II) precursors to afford new carbene complexes. Samarium and thulium alkylidene complexes of these S–C–S dianionic ligands were synthesized in a similar way. Reaction of the lanthanide derivatives with ketones or aldehydes yields olefinic derivatives through a ‘Wittig-like’ process.