A series of bis(dithiolene)tungsten(IV,VI) complexes derived from benzene-1,2-dithiolate (bdt) has
been prepared as an synthetic approach to pterin dithiolene-bound active sites of tungstoenzymes, one example
of which, a archaeal oxidoreductase, has been established crystallographically (Chan et al. Science
1995, 267,
1463). With [WIVO(bdt)2]2- (2) as the starting compound, silylation with RR‘2SiCl afforded [WIV(bdt)2(OSiRR‘2)]1-
(4). Oxidation of 4 with Me3NO gave [WVIO(bdt)2(OSiRR‘2)]1- (5), also accessible by silylation of
[WVIO2(bdt)2]2- (3). Reaction of 3 or 5 with Me3SiCl resulted in [WVIO(bdt)2Cl]1- (6), from which the unstable
species [WVIO(bdt)2L]1- (L = ButO-, PhS-) were generated in solution. Reductive oxo transfer of 6 with L‘
= P(OEt)3 or ButNC/P(OEt)3 gave [WIV(bdt)2L‘2] (8 and 9). Sulfido complex [WVIS(bdt)2(OSiRR‘2)]1- (12)
was obtained in the reaction systems 4/(PhCH2S)2S and 5/(Me3Si)2S. Structures of [WO(SPh)4]1- and
[W(bdt)3]2- and eight complexes of types 4−6, 8, 9, and 12 were determined by X-ray crystallography.
Complexes 4 and 5 are tungsten analogues of the desoxo Mo(IV) and monooxo Mo(VI) states of Rhodobacter
sphaeroides DMSO reductase. Six types of reactivity, including oxygen atom transfer, are recognized by the
synthesis and interconversion of the set of complexes. The potential biological relevance of these complexes
to the structure and function of active sites in two families of tungstoenzymes is considered (RR‘2 = Me3 (4);
ButMe2 (4 and 5), ButPh2 (4, 5, and 12)).