Group 11 metal complexes of SPS-based pincer ligands:: Syntheses, X-ray structures and reactivity

New group 11 d(10) (Cu, Au) metal complexes with SPS pincer ligand were synthesized. Insoluble dimeric or oligomeric complexes [(SP(R)S)Cu](n) (R = Bu: 4, Me: 5) were readily cleaved by several two-electron donor ligands (phosphines, isocyanides, pyridine) to yield a range of new complexes (6-13). X-Ray crystal studies were performed on complexes 7, 8, 9, 11, which revealed distorted tetrahedral geometries and proved once again the flexibility of the SPS ligand, which can accommodate square planar, tetrahedral, octahedral and trigonal bipyramidal geometries. A dimeric gold species with an Au-Au interaction 16 was also synthesized. This dimer could be cleaved with two electron donor ligand (PPh3: 17, RNC 18). Reactivity of complex 11 with ethyl diazoacetate yielded new lambda(5)-phosphinine 14.