Tuning the sulfur–heterometal interaction in organolead(IV) complexes of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄]

Abstract

Reactions of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with Ph₃PbCl, Ph₂PbI₂, Ph₂PbBr₂ and Me₃PbOAc result in the formation of bright yellow to orange solutions containing the cations [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄PbR₃]⁺ (R₃ = Ph₃, Ph₂I, Ph₂Br, Me₃) isolated as PF₆⁻ or BPh₄⁻ salts. In the case of the Me₃Pb and Et₃Pb systems, a prolonged reaction time results in formation of the alkylated species [Pt₂(μ-S)(μ-SR)(PPh₃)₄]⁺ (R = Me, Et). X-ray structure determinations on [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄PbMe₃]PF₆ and [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄PbPh₂I]PF₆ have been carried out, revealing different coordination modes. In the Me₃Pb complex, the (four-coordinate) lead atom binds to a single sulfur atom, while in the Ph₂PbI adduct coordination of both sulfurs results in a five-coordinate lead centre. These differences are related to the electron density on the lead centre, and indicate that the interaction of the heterometal centre with the {Pt₂S₂} metalloligand core can be tuned by variation of the heteroatom substituents. The species [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄PbR₃]⁺ display differing fragmentation pathways in their ESI mass spectra, following initial loss of PPh₃ in all cases; for R = Ph, loss of PbPh₂ occurs, yielding [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₃Ph]⁺, while for R = Me, reductive elimination of ethane gives [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₃PbMe]⁺, which is followed by loss of CH₄.