Dinuclear complexes with bis(benzenedithiolate) ligands

As a part of a broader study directed towards helical coordination compounds with benzenedithiolate donors, we have synthesized the bis(benzenedithiol) ligands 1,2-bis(2,3-dimercaptobenzamido)ethane (H(4)-1) and 1,2-bis(2,3-dimercaptophenyl)ethane (H(4)-2). Both ligands form dinuclear complexes with Ni(II), Ni(III) and, after air-oxidation, Co(III) ions under equilibrium conditions. Complexes (NEt(4))(4)Ni(II)(2)(1)(2)] (11 b), (NEt(4))(2)Ni(III)(2)(1)(2)] (13), and Na(4)Ni(II)(2)(2)(2)] (14) were characterized by X-ray diffraction. In all complexes, two square-planar Ni(S(2)C(6)H(3)R)(2)] units are linked in a double-stranded fashion by the carbon backbone and they assume a coplanar arrangement in a stair-like manner. Cyclic voltammetric investigations show a strong dependence of the redox potential on the type of the ligand. The substitution of 1(4-) for 2(4-) on nickel (-785 mV for 11 b versus -1130 mV for 14, relative to ferrocene) affects the redox potential to a similar degree as the substitution of nickel for cobalt (-1160 mV for Co(2)(1)(2)](2-)/Co(2)(1)(2)](4-), relative to ferrocene). The redox waves display a markedly less reversible behavior for complexes with the shorter bridged ligand 2(4-) compared to those of 1(4-).