Steric and electronic effects on arylthiolate coordination in the pseudotetrahedral complexes [(Tp(Ph,Me))Ni-SAr] (Tp(Ph,Me) = hydrotris{3-phenyl-5-methyl-1-pyrazolyl}borate)

Synthesis and characterization of several new pseudotetrahedral arylthiolate complexes [(Tp(Ph,Me))Ni-SAr] (Tp(Ph,Me) = hydrotris{3-phenyl-5-methyl-1-pyrazolyl}borate; Ar = Ph, 2,4,6-(i)Pr3C6H2, C6H4-4-Cl, C6H4-4-Me, C6H4-4-OMe) are reported, including X-ray crystal structures of the first two complexes. With prior results, two series of complexes are spanned, [(Tp(Ph,Me))Ni-S-2,4,6-RC6H2] (R'' = H, Me, (i)Pr) plus the xylyl analogue [(Tp(Ph,Me))Ni-S-2,6-Me2C6H3], as well as [(Tp(Ph,Me))Ni-S-C6H4-4-Y] (Y = Cl, H, Me, OMe), intended to elucidate steric and/or electronic effects on arylthiolate coordination. In contrast to [(Tp(Me,Me))Ni-SAr] analogues that adopt a sawhorse conformation, the ortho-disubstituted complexes show enhanced trigonal and Ni-S-Ar bending, reflecting the size of the 3-pyrazole substituents. Moreover, weakened scorpionate ligation is implied by spectroscopic data. Little spectroscopic effect is observed in the series of para-substituted complexes, suggesting the observed effects are primarily steric in origin. The relatively electron-rich and encumbered complex [(Tp(Ph,Me))Ni-S-2,4,6-(i)Pr3C6H2] behaves uniquely when dissolved in CH3CN, forming a square planar solvent adduct with a bidentate scorpionate ligand, [(κ(2)-Tp(Ph,Me))Ni(NCMe)(S-2,4,6-(i)Pr3C6H2)]. This adduct was isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Single-point DFT and TD-DFT calculations on a simplified [(κ(2)-Tp)Ni(NCMe)(SPh)] model were used to clarify the electronic spectrum of the adduct, and to elucidate differences between Ni-SAr bonding and spectroscopy between pseudotetrahedral and square planar geometries.