Preparation and Properties of Bis[μ-S-(2-tiolatoethyl)-diphenylphosphine][(2-thiolatoethyl)diphenyl-phosphine]dinickel(+1) Ion,a Novel Unsymmetrical Thiolate-bridged complex

The title cation ( = Ni₂L) is formed in a variety of reactions (Schemes 1 and 2) in systems containing Ni²⁺ and (2-thiolatoethyl)-diphenylphosphine (= L^?) in the absence of coordinating anions at Ni²⁺/L^? ratios > 0.5 in apolar or moderately polar media. Solid Ni₂L₃]CIO₄ and Ni₂L₃]BPh₄ have been isolated. Job's plots confirm the Ni₂L- stoichiometry in solution. ³¹P-NMR data are consistent with ≥ 97% Ni₂L (vs. ? 3% of hypothetical Ni₃L) at equilibrium and support the suggested configuration (Fig. 2). The equilibrium between NiL₂ + NiL₂Br₂ and Ni₂L + Br^? varies with the solvent composition in CH₂₃Cl₂/EtOH mixtures. The rate of formation of Ni₂L₂Br₂ from Ni₂L and bromide (in high excess) in CH₂Cl₂ is first-order in Ni₂L]_tot but depends on the ratio Bu₄NBr]_tot/Ni₂L₃ · ClO₄]tot, even at a high excess of bromide. This is interpreted by efficient competition in ion-aggregate formation between the small perchlorate concentration introduced as the counterion of Ni₂L, and the large excess of bromide.