Diiron butane-1,2-dithiolate complexes with tris(4-chlorophenyl)phosphine or tris(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine: synthesis, characterization, X-ray crystal structures, and electrochemistry

Abstract

Two diiron butane-1,2-dithiolate complexes containing tris(4-chlorophenyl)phosphine or tris(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine have been prepared and characterized. Treatment of complex [Fe2(CO)6{μ-SCH2CH(CH2CH3)S}] (1) with tris(4-chlorophenyl)phosphine or tris(4-methoxyphenyl)phosphine in the presence of Me3NO · 2 H2O as the oxidizing agent gave the complexes [Fe2(CO)5{P(4-C6H4Cl)3}{µ-SCH2CH(CH2CH3)S)} (2) and [Fe2(CO)5{P(4-C6H4OCH3)3}{µ-SCH2CH(CH2CH3)S)}] (3) in 92% and 90% yields, respectively. Both complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, NMR spectroscopy, and their structures were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Moreover, the electrochemical properties of complexes 2 and 3 were investigated by cyclic voltammetry.