Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, and chemistry of the cation [(η-MePh)Mo(µ-SMe)4Mo(η-MePh)]2+; easy D2O–NaOD catalysed H–D exchange of the methyl hydrogens of a η-bonded toluene ligand

Abstract

Treatment of the new paramagnetic cation [(η-PhMe)Mo(py)₃]⁺(py = pyridine) with methane thiol yields the redox active, diamagnetic cation [(η-PhMe)Mo(µ-SMe)₄Mo(η-PhMe)]²⁺ which undergoes complete deuterium exchange of the toluene methyl hydrogens in D₂O–Na₃PO₄ buffer (pD = 11) at 25 °C and which yields the weakly paramagnetic cation [(MeIm)₃ Mo(µ-SMe)₃-Mo(MeIm)₃]³⁺(MeIm = 1-methylimidazole) on reaction with zinc amalgam in 1-methylimidazole–acetonitrile solution.