Synthesis and structures of new copper-indium thiolate cluster complexes

Two new copper indium thiolate complexes were obtained from the reactions of InCl3 and (HSBu)-Bu-n with a combination of [Cu(NCMe)(4)][PF6] and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe). In a mixture of methanol and MeCN solvent the complex [(In2SBu2)-Bu-n(mu-(SBu)-Bu-n)(2)Cu-2(mu-dppe)2] (3) was formed. When this reaction was performed in a mixture of MeOH and CH2Cl2 solvent, a higher nuclearity species, [Cu(dppe)(2)][In4Cl4(mu-(SBu)-Bu-n)(12)Cu-4(mu(4)-Cl)] (4) was formed. The monoanion in 4 consists of a central tetrahedral chloride ion coordinated to four copper atoms. The copper atoms are linked to four outer InCl groups by three bridging butyl-thiolato ligands. Overall, this ion has approximate T-symmetry and is chiral.