Synthesis and study of hexanuclear molybdenum clusters containing thiolate ligands

Four hexanuclear molybdenum chloride cluster complexes containing terminal thiolate ligands have been synthesized and fully characterized. (Bu 4N) 2Mo 6Cl 8(SEt) 6] was prepared by reacting Na 2Mo 6Cl 8(OMe) 6] with an excess of ethanethiol in refluxing tetrahydrofuran. (PPN) 2Mo 6Cl 8(SBu) 6], (Bu 4N) 2Mo 6Cl 8(SBn) 6], and (Bu 4N) 2Mo 6Cl 8(SNC 8H 6) 6] (C 8H 6NS (-) = 3-indolylthiolate) were subsequently prepared in the reaction of Mo 6Cl 8(SEt) 6] (2-) with an excess of HSR (R = Bu, Bn or 3-indolyl). Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses were performed on two of these complexes: (PPN) 2Mo 6Cl 8(SEt) 6].Et 2O, crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with a = 12.3894(11), b = 13.7651(12), c = 15.0974(13), alpha = 103.975(2), beta = 99.690(2), gamma = 98.062(2), and Z = 1; (PPh 3Me) 2Mo 6Cl 8(SBn) 6].2NO 2CH 3, also crystallizes in the P1 space group with a = 12.1574(16), b = 13.4441(17), c = 14.2132(18), alpha = 89.654(2), beta = 88.365(2), gamma = 71.179(2), and Z = 1. Our studies demonstrate that Mo 6Cl 8(SEt) 6] (2-) displays luminescent properties and that the same complex undergoes substitution reactions with different thiols, as well as reaction with electrophilic reagents such as MeI.