Synthesis, Structure, and 31P NMR of Sulfur/Oxygen-Bridged Incomplete Cubane-Type Molybdenum and Tungsten Clusters with Triphenylphosphine Ligands

Sulfur/oxygen-bridged incomplete cubane-type triphenylphosphine molybdenum and tungsten-clusters Mo₃S₄Cl₄(H₂O)₂(PPh₃)₃]·3THF (1A), Mo₃S₄Cl₄(H₂O)₂(PPh₃)₃]·2THF (2A), Mo₃OS₃Cl₄(H₂O)₂(PPh₃)₃]·2THF (1B), and W₃S₄Cl₄(H₂O)₂(PPh₃)₃]·2THF (1C) were prepared from the corresponding aqua clusters and PPh₃ in THF/MeOH. On recrystallization from THF, procedures with and without addition of hexane to the solution gave 1A and 2A, respectively, while the procedures gave no effect on the formation of 1B and 1C. Crystallographic results obtained are as follows: 1A: monoclinic, P2₁/n, a=17.141(4) Å, b=22.579(5) Å, c=19.069(4) Å, =96.18(2)°, V=7337(3) ų, Z=4, R(R _w)=0.078(0.102); 1C: monoclinic, P2 ₁/c, a=12.635(1) Å, b=20.216(4) Å, c=27.815(3) Å, =96.16(1)°, V=7062(2) ų, Z=4, R(R _w)=0.071(0.083). If the phenyl groups are ignored, the molecule Mo₃S₄Cl₄(H₂O)₂(PPh₃)₃] in 2A has idealized CS symmetry with the mirror plane perpendicular to the plane determined by the metal atoms, while the molecule in 1A does not have the symmetry. The tungsten compound 1C is isomorphous with the molybdenum compound 2A. ³¹P NMR spectra of 1A, 2A, and 1C were obtained and compared with similar clusters with dmpe (1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane) ligands.