Novel Synthesis of Macrocyclic Amine-Thiophenolate Ligands: X-ray Crystal Structure of a Ni4 Complex of an N8S4 Ligand

Abstract

A novel route to macrocyclic amine-thiophenolate ligands is described. The new, air-stable thiophenolate precursor 1,2-bis(4-tert-butyl-2,6-diformyl-phenylsulfanyl)ethane (4) is readily condensed with two equivalents of 1,2-ethanediamine or 1,3-propanediamine under medium to high dilution conditions to give 2 × 4 condensation products. The smaller 1 × 2 macrocyclic compounds are not produced under these conditions. Subsequent reduction with NaBH4 (reduction of imine groups) and Na/NH3 (reductive cleavage of aryl-alkylsulfides) provides the 36- and 40-membered amine-thiophenolate ligands H46a and H46b. The macrocyclic compounds are versatile ligands for the preparation of polynuclear transition metal complexes. With divalent nickel H46a forms the di- and tetranuclear complexes [Ni2(6a)] (7) and [Ni4(6a)][ClO4]4 (8). Reaction of 8 with four equivalents of NH4SCN yields the novel isothiocyanate complex [Ni4II(6a)(NCS)4]·10MeCN (9). The structure consists of well-separated molecules of the tetranuclear complex [NiII4(6a)(NCS)4] (Ci symmetry). Two symmetry-related binuclear [N2Ni(μ2-SR)2NiN4] fragments composed of thiolate-bridged distorted planar {N2S2Ni}- and distorted cis-octahedral {(SCN)2N2S2Ni} units reside within the cavity of the macrocycle. The intramolecular distance between the two binuclear units is 6.144(1) Å.