Isomerism and Ligand Rearrangement within the cyclo-P2S3 Middle Deck in Dimolybdenum Triple-Decker Complexes

The molecular structure of [Cp*2Mo2P2S3] (1; Cp* = η5-C5Me5) has been reinvestigated. In DFT studies a series of various positional isomers A−E have been calculated for the model complex [(C5H5)2Mo2P2S3]. The energetically favored isomer [Cp*2Mo2(μ,η2:2-PS)2(μ-S)] (1B) reacts with W(CO)5THF to give [Cp*2Mo2P2S3·W(CO)5] (2). X-ray diffraction analysis of 2 confirms the presence of two η2:2-PS dumbbells and one singly bridging sulfur ligand, the W(CO)5 fragment being coordinated at one of the P atoms. Arrangement B is also found in the structure of the diadduct [Cp°2Mo2P2S3{W(CO)5}2] (3; Cp° = t-BuMe2C5H2), which is more stable than its Cp* analogue. 31P solid-state MAS NMR spectroscopic studies of 1 and 2 confirm the existence of only one isomer, but reveal disorder phenomena in the solid state within the cyclo-P2S3 middle deck. Addition of excess W(CO)5THF to 1 proceeds via elusive [Cp*2Mo2P2S3{W(CO)5}2] to give the cluster [{Cp*2Mo2W(CO)3(μ2,η2:2-PS)(μ3,η1:1:2-PS)(μ3-S)}{W(CO)5}2] (5). The molecular stru...