posted on 2009-06-01, 00:00authored byChi Minh Tuong, Whitney K. Hammons, Ashley L. Howarth, Kelly E. Lutz, Ackim D. Maduvu, Laura B. Haysley, Brian R. T. Allred, Lenore K. Hoyt, Mark S. Mashuta, Mark E. Noble
The SO bridge of the complex, [Mo2(NTo)2(S2P(OEt)2)2(μ-O2CMe)(μ-SBn)(μ-SO)], 1, displayed nucleophilicity at O, giving alkylation products
[Mo2(NTo)2(S2P(OEt)2)2(μ-O2CMe)(μ-SBn)(μ-SOR)]+, 4+, which contained
the thioperoxide bridge. These cations were then subject to nucleophilic
attack by two pathways. Debenzylation of the bridge thiolate in 4+ afforded neutral [Mo2(NTo)2(S2P(OEt)2)2(μ-O2CMe)(μ-S)(μ-SOR)], 5; de-esterification
of a dithiophosphate ligand in 4+ gave [Mo2(NTo)2(S2P(O)(OEt))(S2P(OEt)2)(μ-O2CMe)(μ-SBn)(μ-SO)], 6, which contained a monoester, dithiophosphate ligand. Complex 1 gave a slow and clean reaction in the crystalline state,
further demonstrating its nucleophilicity by attacking a neighboring
molecule in its lattice. X-ray crystallography confirmed the thioperoxide
linkage and revealed structural similarities of the Mo2(μ-SOR) unit to sulfenate esters (RSOR) and related derivatives.