Reactions of [ReN(Cl)(Me2PhP)2(HEt2tcb)] with Lewis Acids. Synthesis, Characterization and Structures of [Re(NBBr3)Br2(Me2PhP)3], [Re(NGaCl3)Cl(Me2PhP)2(H2Et2tcb)][GaCl4] and [Re{NB(C6F5)3}Cl(Me2PhP)2(HEt2tcb)] (H2Et2tcb=N,N-diethylthiocarbamoylbenzamidine)

Reactions of [ReN(Cl)(Me2PhP)2(HEt2tcb)] (HEt2tcb−=N,N-diethylthiocarbamoylbenzamidinate, Me2PhP=dimethylphenylphosphine) with Lewis acidic compounds such as BBr3, (C6F5)3B or gallium(III) chloride yield nitrogen-bridged binuclear complexes with covalent bonds between the nitrido ligand and boron or gallium. The reactions go along with activation of the transition metal centre which can lead to ligand re-arrangements and reactions with solvent molecules. The reaction with BBr3 results in cleavage of the bonds to the chelating ligand. [Re(NBBr3)Br2(Me2PhP)3] was isolated as the only product with a nitrido bridge. The bis-chelate [ReN(HEt2tcb)2] was formed as a side-product. Upon formation of a nitrido bridge to GaCl3 the first co-ordination sphere of rhenium is retained. The co-ordinated thiocarbamoylbenzamidinate, however, undergoes protonation and is bonded as a neutral, bidentate ligand in the product [Re(NGaCl3)Cl(Me2PhP)2(H2Et2tcb)][GaCl4]. In [Re{NB(C6F5)3}Cl(Me2PhP)2(HEt2tcb)], which can be obtained in good yield from the reaction of [ReN(Cl)(Me2PhP)2(HEt2tcb)] with (C6F5)3B, the co-ordination environment of the metal remains essentially unchanged. X-ray structural studies on the products suggest that the strong structural trans influence of the terminal nitrido ligand in the starting complex decreases significantly as a consequence of the formation of the N–B/Ga bonds. The rhenium–nitrogen multiple bond distances, however, remain almost unchanged.