Mass spectrometry-directed synthesis of ‘early–late’ sulfide-bridged heterobimetallic complexes from the metalloligand [Pt2(PPh3)4(μ-S)2] and oxo compounds of vanadium(v), molybdenum(vi) and uranium(vi)

Abstract

The metalloligand [Pt₂(PPh₃)₄(μ-S)₂] has been found to react with the transition metal oxo compounds, ammonium metavanadate, sodium molybdate, and the actinide complex uranyl nitrate to give sulfide-bridged heterobimetallic complexes [Pt₂(PPh₃)₄(μ₃-S)₂VO(OMe)₂]⁺, [Pt₂(PPh₃)₄(μ₃-S)₂MoO₂(OMe)]⁺, and [Pt₂(PPh₃)₄(μ₃-S)₂UO₂(η²-NO₃)₂], respectively. Electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS) was used to probe the reactivity of [Pt₂(PPh₃)₄(μ-S)₂] and thus identify likely targets for isolation and characterization. ESMS has also been used to investigate fragmentation pathways of the new species. No bimetallic species were detected with hydrated La(NO₃)₃ or Th(NO₃)₄, or with the lanthanide shift reagent Eu(fod)₃ (fod = 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedionate). X-Ray crystal structure determinations have been carried out on [Pt₂(PPh₃)₄(μ₃-S)₂VO(OMe)₂]⁺, 2, (as its hexafluorophosphate salt) and [Pt₂(PPh₃)₄(μ₃-S)₂UO₂(η²-NO₃)₂], 4. The vanadium atom of 2 has a distorted square pyramidal geometry, while the uranium in 4 has the expected linear dioxo coordination geometry, with two bidentate nitrates and a bidentate {Pt₂S₂} moiety.