Reversible migration of a co-ordinated mercapto ligand on to a metal-bound alkyne to give η2-vinyl complexes. The crystal and molecular structure of [WC(CF3)·C(CF3)SPri(CF3CCCF3)(η5-C5H5)]

Abstract

Thiolato complexes [W(SR)(CF₃C₂CF₃)₂(η⁵-C₅H₅)] have been shown to exhibit two basic structures, a bis-alkyne form [W(SR)(CF₃CCCF₃)₂(η⁵-C₅H₅)](R = C₆F₅, Ph, or 4-MeC₆H₄) and an η²-vinyl form [[graphic omitted]R(CF₃CCCF₃)-(η⁵-C₅H₅)](R = Me, Et, Prⁱ, Prⁿ, PhCH₂, or Bu^t) shown by X-ray diffraction studies of the isopropyl complex to result from nucleophilic attack of the SR ligand on an acetylenic carbon atom.