Reaction of Fe2(CO)9 with a dithiophosphinate: X-ray crystal structures of two complexes formed by selective cleavage of the thiophosphoryl bond

Abstract

X-ray crystal structure analysis of the two complexes formed shows that the reaction of Fe₂(CO)₉ with a cyclic dithiophosphinate occurs in two steps: firstly a complex with Fe–S–Fe and Fe–P–Fe bridges is formed which then reduces selectively the P–S thiophosphoryl bond of another dithiophosphinate molecule to give a thiophosphinite complex in which the original heterocycle is retained.