Syntheses, structures, and electrochemical properties of platinum(II) complexes containing di-tert-butylbipyridine and crown ether annelated dithiolate ligands

A series of new platinum(II) complexes containing both 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine (dbbpy) and the extended tetrathiafulvalenedithiolate ligands have been prepared and characterized. These complexes include Pt(dbbpy)(C8H4S8)] (1; C8H4S82- = 2-{(4,5-ethylenedithio)-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene}-1,3-dithiol-4,5-dithiolate), Pt(dbbpy)(ptdt)] (2; ptdt = 2-{(4,5-cyclopentodithio)-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene}-1,3-dithiol-4,5-dithiolate), Pt(dbbpy)(mtdt)] (3; mtdt = 2-{(4,5-methylethylenedithio)-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene}-1,3-dithiol-4,5-dithiolate), Pt(dbbpy)(btdt)] (4; btdt = benzotetrathiafulvalenedithiolate), Pt(dbbpy)(C8H6S8)] (5; C8H6S82- = 2-{4,5-bis(methylthio)-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene}-1,3-dithiol-4,5-dithiolate), Pt(dbbpy)(3O-C6S8)] (6; 3O-C6S82- = 2-{4,5-dithia-(3',6',9'-trioxaundecyl)-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene}-1,3-dithiol-4,5-dithiolate), and Pt(dbbpy)(4O-C6S8)] (7; 4O-C6S82- = 2-{4,5-dithia-(3',6',9',12'-tetraoxatetradecyl)-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene}-1,3-dithiol-4,5-dithiolate). The crystal structures of a new ligand precursor (2-4,5-dithia-(3',6',9',12'-tetraoxatetradecyl)-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene]-4,5-bis(2-cyanoethylsulfanyl)-1,3-dithiole, IIIc) and complexes 5-7 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Complexes 1-7 show intense electronic absorption bands in the UV-vis region due to the intramolecular mixed metal/ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer transition, and they display significant solvatochromic behavior. Redox properties of these compounds have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry, and complex 7 shows a significant response for Na+ ions with a large positive shift of ca. 45 mV.