Complexes of the type ZnS6(TMEDA), ZnS4(PMDETA), and ZnS4(Me3TACN) react with electrophilic alkenes
to give dithiolene complexes ZnS2C2R2(amine)
n
. The Me3TACN complex is the most reactive, while the more
conveniently prepared PMDETA complex also undergoes this reaction at useful rates. The following alkenes
were successfully tested: C2H2(CO2Me)2 (cis and trans isomers), C2H3(CO2Me), C2H3(CN), 1,2-C2H2Me(CN),
C2H3(CHO), and 1,2-C2H2(CN)(Ph). Crystallographic analysis shows that the highly reactive complex ZnS4(Me3TACN) is structurally similar to ZnS4(PMDETA), including the presence of an elongated Zn−Nax bond. Model
studies indicate that the reaction of alkenes with L
n
ZnS
x
proceeds via the reversible formation of a dipolar
intermediate, as indicated by the ability of the polysulfido complexes to catalyze the isomerization of cis-C2H2(CO2Me)2. It is proposed that such dipolar species undergoes ring closure to give alkanedithiolato intermediates, e.g.,
Zn[S2C2H2(CO2Me)2](PMDETA). The dithiolato complexes Zn[S2C2H2(CO2Me)2](PMDETA) and Zn[S2C2H2(CO2Me)2](TMEDA) were prepared from ZnMe2, the di- and triamines, and the dithiol meso-(HS)2C2H2(CO2Me)2.
These dithiolates undergoes dehydrogenation upon treatment with S8 to give the dithiolene Zn[S2C2(CO2Me)2]L
n
at a rate that is independent of the ancillary ligand L. The dithiolene ligands can be removed from the Zn center
by treatment with [COCl2]3 and Cp2TiCl2; in this way Zn[S2C2H(CN)](PMDETA) was converted to OCS2C2H(CN)
and Cp2TiS2C2H(CN).