Coordination chemistry of pyrazolylbis((alkylthio)methyl)borates: Hybrid nitrogen and sulfur donor ligands

The synthesis of iron(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes supported by chelating borate ligands containing one pyrazole and two thioethers, phenyl(pyrazolyl)bis((alkylthio)methyl)borates, [Ph(pz)BtR], is described. The six-coordinate complexes [Ph(pz)Bt]2M, M = Fe (1Fe), Co (1Co) and Ni (1Ni), form exclusively the cis isomers as confirmed by X-ray diffraction analyses. Whereas 1Co and 1Ni are high spin, 1Fe exhibits a room temperature magnetic moment, μeff = 4.1 μB, consistent with spin-crossover behavior. Quantitative analysis of the electronic spectrum of 2Ni leads to a value of Dq = 1086 cm−1, reflective of a ligand field strength somewhat weaker than those imposed by the related tridentate borate ligands Tp or PhTt. Replacement of the methylthioether substituent with the sterically more demanding tert-butylthioether leads to the isolation of [Ph(pz)BttBu]MX, M = Co, X = Cl (2Co); M = Ni, X = Cl (2Ni) or acac (3). The solid state structures of 2Co and 2Ni are chloride-bridged dimers. Additional high-spin cobalt(II) complexes, accessible under distinct preparative conditions, [κ2-Ph(pzH)BttBu] CoCl2·THF (4) and [κ2-Ph(pz)BttBu]2Co (5), have been fully characterized.

Graphical abstractIron, cobalt and nickel complexes of mixed donor borate ligands containing two thioether and one pyrazole substituent have been prepared and structurally characterized.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide