posted on 2020-04-02, 16:06authored byJózsef Sándor Pap, Flávio Luiz Benedito, Eberhard Bothe, Eckhard Bill, Serena DeBeer George, Thomas Weyhermüller, Karl Wieghardt
The preparation and structural characterization of the neutral, square planar complexes [Pt<sup>II</sup>(<sup>t</sup>bpy)(A)] (<b>1</b>), [Pt<sup>II</sup>(<sup>t</sup>bpy)(B)] (<b>2</b>), and [Pt<sup>II</sup>(PPh<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>(B)] (<b>3</b>) have been accomplished, where (<sup>t</sup>bpy) = 4,4‘-di-<i>tert</i>-butylpyridine, (A)<sup>2-</sup> =
3,6-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,2-benzenedithiolate(2−), and (B)<sup>2-</sup> = 1,2-bis(4-<i>tert</i>-butylphenyl)ethylene-1,2-dithiolate(2−)
and (A<sup>•</sup>)<sup>1-</sup> and (B<sup>•</sup>)<sup>1-</sup> represent the corresponding monoanionic radicals. Electrochemical and chemical one-electron
oxidation of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> in CH<sub>2</sub>Cl<sub>2</sub> solution affords the monomeric monocations [Pt<sup>II</sup>(<sup>t</sup>bpy)(A<sup>•</sup>)]<sup>+</sup> (<b>1a</b>) and [Pt<sup>II</sup>(<sup>t</sup>bpy)(B<sup>•</sup>)]<sup>+</sup>
(<b>2a</b>), both of which possess an <i>S</i> = <sup>1</sup>/<sub>2</sub> ground state. The corresponding spin doublet monocationic dimers [Pt<sup>II</sup><sub>2</sub>(<sup>t</sup>bpy)<sub>2</sub>(A)(A<sup>•</sup>)]<sup>+</sup> (<b>1b</b>) and [Pt<sup>II</sup><sub>2</sub>(<sup>t</sup>bpy)<sub>2</sub>(B)(B<sup>•</sup>)]<sup>+</sup> (<b>2b</b>) were electrochemically generated in solution (50% oxidation) and
identified by X-band EPR spectroscopy. Complete one-electron oxidation of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> yielded the diamagnetic dimers
[Pt<sup>II</sup><sub>2</sub>(<sup>t</sup>bpy)<sub>2</sub>(A<sup>•</sup>)<sub>2</sub>]<sup>2+</sup> (<b>1c</b>) and [Pt<sup>II</sup><sub>2</sub>(<sup>t</sup>bpy)<sub>2</sub>(B<sup>•</sup>)<sub>2</sub>]<sup>2+</sup> (<b>2c</b>) which are in equilibrium with the corresponding paramagnetic
monomers <b>1a</b> and <b>2a</b> in solution. The crystal structure of [Pt<sup>II</sup><sub>2</sub>(<sup>t</sup>bpy)<sub>2</sub>(B<sup>•</sup>)<sub>2</sub>](PF<sub>6</sub>)<sub>2</sub>·3CH<sub>2</sub>Cl<sub>2</sub> (<b>2c</b>) revealed a
centrosymmetric, lateral dimer whose bridging part is a Pt<sup>II</sup><sub>2</sub>(μ<sub>2</sub>-S)<sub>2</sub> rhomb; the metal ions possess a square based
pyramidal geometry. Solid-state sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectra of <b>1</b>, <b>2</b>, <b>2a</b>, <b>2c</b>, and [Pt<sup>II</sup>(B<sup>•</sup>)<sub>2</sub>]<sup>0</sup> (<b>4</b>) have
been recorded, which clearly show that a sulfur-centered radical (B<sup>•</sup>)<sup>1-</sup> is present in <b>2a</b>, <b>2c</b>, and <b>4</b>. The absence
of ligand-based radicals in <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> is also clearly established. One-electron oxidation of [Pt(PPh<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>(B)] (<b>3</b>) afforded
only the spin doublet species [Pt<sup>II</sup>(PPh<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>(B<sup>•</sup>)]<sup>+</sup> (<b>3a</b>); no dimer formation was detected. Synthesis and crystal structure
of square planar [Pt<sup>II</sup>(B<sup>•</sup>)<sub>2</sub>]<sup>0</sup>·thf are also reported.