1578
Inorg. Chem. 1997, 36, 1578-1582
Template Synthesis and Reactions of Tricarbonylmolybdenum Phosphadithiamacrocycle
Complexes
Philip J. Blower,† John C. Jeffery,‡ John R. Miller,§ Spencer N. Salek,† Dirk Schmaljohann,†
Raymond J. Smith,† and Michael J. Went*,|
Department of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NJ, U.K., Department of
Inorganic Chemistry, The University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, U.K., Department of Chemistry and
Biological Chemistry, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, U.K., and Department
of Chemistry, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NH, U.K.
ReceiVed September 18, 1996X
Treatment of [Me4N]2[PhP(CH2CH2S)2] with [Mo(CO)3(NCMe)3] affords the reactive intermediate
[Me4N]2[Mo(CO)3{PhP(CH2CH2S)2}] (1), which undergoes oxidation to afford [Mo{PhP(CH2CH2S)2}2] (2).
Reaction of 1 with a variety of dichloroalkanes produces [Mo(CO)3{c-PhP(CH2CH2S)2X}] (X ) CH2CH2,
CH2CH2CH2, CH2CHMe or CH2CH(OH)CH2). The structure of [Mo(CO)3{c-PhP(CH2CH2S)2CH2CH2}] (3) has
been established by X-ray crystallography and consists of a Mo(CO)3 fragment facially coordinated by the tridentate
c-PhP(CH2CH2S)2CH2CH2 ligand. Reaction of 3 with bromine affords seven-coordinate [Mo(CO)2{c-PhP(CH2-
CH2S)2CH2CH2}Br2] (7), the X-ray crystal structure of which reveals a carbonyl-capped octahedral geometry.
Treatment of 3 with sulfur results in loss of the Mo(CO)3 fragment and isolation of c-PhPS(CH2CH2S)2CH2CH2
(8), the X-ray structure of which shows a nine-membered ring with the phosphorus center bearing phenyl and
sulfide substituents. Reduction of 8 with sodium naphthalenide affords the parent ligand c-PhP(CH2CH2S)2CH2-
CH2. Crystal data: 2, C20H26MoP2S4, triclinic P1h, a ) 8.105(3) Å, b ) 8.263(3) Å, c ) 17.663(4) Å, R )
100.29(2)°, â ) 99.78(2)°, γ ) 98.81(2)°, Z ) 2; 3, C15H17MoO3PS2, monoclinic P21/n, a ) 9.600(3) Å, b )
15.594(5) Å, c ) 11.335(3) Å, â ) 93.01(2)°, Z ) 4; 7, C14H17Br2MoO2PS2, monoclinic P21/c, a ) 17.039(3)
Å, b ) 8.686(2) Å, c ) 12.466(3) Å, â ) 100.52(2)°, Z ) 4; 8, C12H17PS3, monoclinic P21, a ) 6.651(4) Å, b
) 7.313(2) Å, c ) 14.687(9) Å, â ) 101.62(3)°, Z ) 2.
Introduction
Previous reports have addressed the preparation of mixed
phosphathiamacrocycles, although they all concern ring sizes
of 11 or greater.6-8 Eleven-membered phosphathiatrihetero-
macrocycles of the type 2,6,10-triheterobenzo[11]crown-3 have
been prepared by the high-dilution reactions of a bis(nucleophile)
with a bis(electrophile), and coordination to M(CO)3 (M ) Cr,
Mo, W) fragments has been demonstrated.7,8
Our studies have concentrated on the synthesis of mixed
phosphathiacyclononanes, and we have previously reported the
synthesis of c-PhP(CH2CH2S)2CH2CH2 (L) by a high-dilution
method.1 This paper reports the template synthesis and reactiv-
ity of phosphadithiacyclononanes and related cyclodecanes.
Our study of mixed phosphathiamacrocycles attempts to
combine the areas of phosphine coordination chemistry and the
more recent developments in thiamacrocycle coordination
chemistry.1 The chemistry of complexes containing phosphine
ligands has been studied intensively, and a vast number of mono-
and didentate phosphine complexes are known, some of which
have important catalytic properties. In comparison, thioethers
are relatively weakly bound ligands.2 However, thioether
macrocycles and in particular 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane (9S3) are
capable of producing metal complexes of high thermodynamic
and kinetic stability.3,4 The unique properties of 9S3 are a result
of the combination of the macrocyclic effect with a conformation
which is ideal for facial tridentate coordination, and many 9S3
complexes exhibit interesting electronic and electrochemical
properties. These observations lead to the speculation as to
whether the combination of the nine-membered-ring confor-
mational properties with phosphine donor centers might offer
complexes with even greater stability and novelty. Recent
reports suggest that syntheses of triphosphacyclononane com-
plexes using a group 6 metal tricarbonyl template are difficult.5
Experimental Section
All reactions were carried out under an atmosphere of nitrogen using
standard Schlenk tube and vacuum line techniques, and all solvents
were freshly distilled under a nitrogen atmosphere and over appropriate
drying agents. Petroleum ether (bp 40-60 °C) and dichloromethane
were distilled over calcium hydride, and tetrahydrofuran was distilled
over potassium. The compound PhP(CH2CH2SH)2 was prepared by a
literature method.9 Fast atom bombardment and chemical ionization
spectra were recorded by the EPSRC Mass Spectrometry Service at
the University of Swansea with a VG ZAB-E instrument. FAB spectra
were recorded from a matrix sample with NOBA. Infrared spectra
† Department of Biosciences, University of Kent.
‡ The University of Bristol.
§ University of Essex.
(6) Champness, N. R.; Frampton, C. S.; Reid, G.; Tocher, D. A. J. Chem.
Soc., Dalton Trans. 1994, 3031.
(7) Kyba, E. P.; John, A. M.; Brown, S. B.; Hudson, C. W.; McPhaul,
M. J.; Harding, A.; Larsen, K.; Niedzwiecki, S.; Davies, R. E. J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 1980, 102, 139.
| Department of Chemistry, University of Kent.
X Abstract published in AdVance ACS Abstracts, March 1, 1997.
(1) Smith, R. J.; Powell, A. K.; Barnard, N.; Dilworth, J. R.; Blower, P.
J. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1993, 54.
(2) Murray, S. G.; Hartley, F. R. Chem. ReV. 1981, 81, 365.
(3) Blake, A. J.; Schro¨der, M. AdV. Inorg. Chem. 1990, 35, 1.
(4) Cooper, S. R.; Rawle, S. C. Struct, Bonding (Berlin) 1990, 72, 1.
(5) Edwards, P. G.; Fleming, J. S.; Liyanage, S. S.; Coles, S. J.;
Hursthouse, M. B. J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. 1996, 1801.
(8) Fox, M. A.; Campbell, K. A.; Kyba, E. P. Inorg. Chem. 1981, 20,
4163.
(9) Blower, P. J.; Dilworth, J. R.; Leigh, G. J.; Neaves, B. D.; Normanton,
F. B.; Hutchinson, J.; Zubieta, J. A. J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans.
1985, 2647.
S0020-1669(96)01143-3 CCC: $14.00 © 1997 American Chemical Society