Structure and reactivity of the cationic lead(II) thiolate [(4-Me3NC6H4S)6Pb3][PF6]6

The trinuclear cationic lead(II) hexakis-thiolate [(4-Me3NC6H4S)6Pb3][PF6]6 (7) undergoes rearrangement during anion exchange to yield the tris-thiolate [(4-Me3NC6H4S)3Pb][BPh4]2 (8). Reaction of 7 with pyridine (py) and 4,4′-bipyridyl (bipy) yields the adducts [(4-Me3NC6H4S)2Pb(py)]2[BPh4]4 (9) and [(4-Me3NC6H4S)2Pb(bipy)0.5][BPh4]2 (10), respectively. X-ray crystal structures of these compounds show a trimeric cation for 7, polymeric cations for 8 and 10, and a dimeric cation for 9.