Heteroleptic platinum(II) complexes of macrocyclic thioethers and halides: the crystal structures of [Pt(9S3)Cl2], [Pt(9S3)Br2], and [Pt(9S3)I2]

The synthesis, spectroscopic, and crystal structures of three heteroleptic thioether/halide platinum(II) (Pt(II)) complexes of the general formula [Pt(9S3)X₂] (9S3=1,4,7-trithiacyclononane, X=Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻) are presented. All three 9S3/dihalo complexes form very similar structures in which the Pt(II) center is surrounded by a cis arrangement of two halides and two sulfur atoms from the 9S3 ligand. The third sulfur from the 9S3 forms a long distance interaction with the Pt center resulting in an elongated square pyramidal structure with a S₂X₂+S₁ coordination geometry. The distances between the Pt(II) center and axial sulfur shorten with larger halide ions (Cl⁻=3.260(3) Å>Br⁻=3.243(2) Å>I⁻=3.207(2) Å). These distances are consistent with the halides functioning as π donor ligands, and their Pt---S axial distances fall intermediate between Pt(II) thioether complexes involving π acceptor and σ donor ligands. The ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR chemical shift values follow a similar trend with an increased shielding of the platinum ion with larger halide ions. The 9S3 ligand is fluxional in all of these complexes, producing a single carbon resonance. Additionally, a related series of homoleptic crown thioether complexes have been studied using ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR, and there is a strong correlation between the chemical shift and complex structure. Homoleptic crown thioethers show the anticipated upfield chemical shifts with increasing number of coordinated sulfurs. Complexes containing four coordinated sulfur donors have chemical shifts that fall in the range of −4000 to −4800 ppm while a value near −5900 ppm is indicative of five coordinated sulfurs. However, for S₄ crown thioether complexes, differences in the stereochemical orientation of lone pair electrons on the sulfur donors can greatly influence the observed ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR chemical shifts, often by several hundred ppm.