Reactivity of [Re2(CO)8(MeCN)2] with thiazoles: Hydrido bridged dirhenium compounds bearing thiazoles in different coordination modes

Reactions of the labile compound [Re₂(CO)₈(MeCN)₂] with thiazole and 4-methylthiazole in refluxing benzene afforded the new compounds [Re₂(CO)₇{μ-2,3-η²-C₃H(R)NS}{η¹-NC₃H₂(4-R)S}(μ-H)] (1, R = H; 2, R = CH₃), [Re₂(CO)₆{μ-2,3-η²-C₃H(R)NS}{η¹-NC₃H₂(4-R)S}₂(μ-H)] (3, R = H; 4, R = CH₃) and fac-[Re(CO)₃(Cl){η¹-NC₃H₂(4-R)S}₂] (5, R = H; 6, R = CH₃). Compounds 1 and 2 contain two rhenium atoms, one bridging thiazolide ligand, coordinated through the C(2) and N atoms and a η¹-thiazole ligand coordinated through the nitrogen atom to the same Re as the thiazolide nitrogen. Compounds 3 and 4 contain a Re₂(CO)₆ group with one bridging thiazolide ligand coordinated through the C(2) and N atoms and two N-coordinated η¹-thiazole ligands, each coordinated to one Re atom. A hydride ligand, formed by oxidative-addition of C(2)-H bond of the ligand, bridges Re-Re bond opposite the thiazolide ligand in compounds 1-4. Compound 5 contains a single rhenium atom with three carbonyl ligands, two N-coordinated η¹-thiazole ligands and a terminal Cl ligand. Treatment of both 1 and 2 with 5 equiv. of thiazole and 4-methylthiazole in the presence of Me₃NO in refluxing benzene afforded 3 and 4, respectively. Further activation of the coordinated η¹-thiazole ligands in 1-4 is, however, unsuccessful and results only nonspecific decomposition. The single-crystal XRD structures of 1-5 are reported.