Non-Innocent Tris(thiolate) Explained

Non-Innocent Tris(thiolate) Explained

Author: Marek Czykanski

Dithiolenes play a key role in understanding non-innocent ligands, i.e., redox-active ligands whose oxidation state can be difficult to determine. The chelating ligand diphenylphosphinobenzenethiolate (dppbt) can delocalize the electron density like dithiolenes. The recently synthesized tris(thiolate) complex [Ru(dppbt)3]+ (1+) readily undergoes addition reactions with a variety of unsaturated organic compounds.

Michael B. Hall and collegues, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, showed that high-level ab initio calculations provide an unambiguous electronic structure description of 1+. DFT calculations, on the other hand, are not able to do so. The ground state electronic structure of 1+ is a singlet diradical state. It is best described as an open-shell diradical singlet state with antiferromagnetic coupling between a dπ electron on the Ru(III) and pπ electron on the one of the sulfur atoms.

This explains the experimental reaction of 1+ with alkenes and alkynes. The dominant radical character of one of the sulfur atoms stabilizes a vinyl substituent, which explains the regioselectivity.


 

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