Cationic Cobalt-Thiolate Complexes for the DehydrogenativeCoupling ofnBu3SnH

The synthesis and characterization of novel cationic cobalt-(III) thiolate complexes [Cp*Co(RPyS)]22+2[BArF4]-(Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) are described, and their ability to promotecooperative, heterolytic Sn-H bond activation has been investigated. Thesecomplexes, decorated with pyridine-2-thiolate (RPyS) ligands of differentsteric demand, do form air-stable, sulfur-bridged dimers in solution and inthe solid state but still act as precatalysts. After a minute-long inductionperiod, likely required for their dissociation, the least congested complexefficiently catalyzes the dehydrogenative homocoupling ofnBu3SnH at roomtemperature. Two molecules of the hydrostannane are converted into thecorresponding distannane within minutes

Automated summary

The synthesis and characterization of novel cationic cobalt-(III) thiolate complexes and their ability to promote cooperative, heterolytic Sn-H bond activation have been investigated. It was found that the least congested complex efficiently catalyzes the dehydrogenative homocoupling of nBu3SnH at room temperature.