Open-ended, singly
metalated dithiolene complexes with 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(diphenylphosphino)benzene
(tpbz) are prepared either by ligand transfer to [Cl
2
M(tpbz)]
from (R
2
C
2
S
2
)SnR′
2
(R = CN, R′ = Me; R = Me, R′ =
n
Bu) or by a direct reaction between tpbz and [M(S
2
C
2
R
2
)
2
] (M = Ni, Pd, Pt; R = Ph,
p
-anisyl) in a 1:1 ratio. The formation of dimetallic [(R
2
C
2
S
2
)M(tpbz)M(S
2
C
2
R
2
)] attends these syntheses in modest amounts, but the
open-ended compounds are readily separated by silica chromatography.
As affirmed by X-ray crystallographic characterization of numerous
members of the set, the [(R
2
C
2
S
2
)M(tpbz)]
compounds show dithiolene ligands in their fully reduced ene-1,2-dithiolate
form conjoined with divalent Group 10 ions. Minor amounts of octahedral
[(Ph
2
C
2
S
2
)
2
Pt
IV
(tpbz)], a presumed intermediate, are isolated from the preparation
of [(Ph
2
C
2
S
2
)Pt
II
(tpbz)].
Heterodimetallic [(Ph
2
C
2
S
2
)Pt(tpbz)Ni(S
2
C
2
Me
2
)] is prepared from [(Ph
2
C
2
S
2
)Pt
II
(tpbz)]; its cyclic voltammogram,
upon anodic scanning, shows two pairs of closely spaced, but resolved,
1e
–
oxidations corresponding first to [R
2
C
2
S
2
2
–
] –
1e
–
→ [R
2
C
2
S
•
S
–
] and then to [R
2
C
2
S
•
S
–
] – 1e
–
→ [R
2
(C=S)
2
]. The open diphosphine
of [(R
2
C
2
S
2
)M(tpbz)] can be oxidized
to afford open-ended [(R
2
C
2
S
2
)M(tpbzE
2
)] (E = O, S). Synthesis of the octahedral [(dppbO
2
)
3
Ni][I
3
]
2
[dppbO
2
=
1,2-bis(diphenylphosphoryl)benzene] ...