Structural Diversity in Divalent Group 14 Triflate Complexes Involving Endocyclic Thia-Macrocyclic Coordination

A highly unusual series of M(II) (M = Ge, Sn, Pb) complexes with endocyclic thioether macrocyclic coordination and with coordination numbers ranging from three to nine have been prepared by the reaction of [9]aneS3 (1,4,7trithiacyclononane), [12]aneS4 (1,4,7,10-tetrathiacyclododecane), or [24]aneS8 (1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22-octathiacyclotetracosane) with M(OTf)2 (M = Sn and Pb; OTf = CF3SO3-) or with GeCl2middotdioxane and 2 mol equiv of TMSOTf (Me3SiO3SCF3) in a mixture of anhydrous CH2Cl2 and MeCN. The isolated bulk products are characterized by 1H, 13C{1H}, 19F{1H}, and 119Sn{1H} NMR and IR spectroscopy, high-resolution ESI+ MS, and microanalytical data. Crystal structures are also reported for [M(L)][OTf]2 (M = Ge, Sn, Pb; L = [9]aneS3, [12]aneS4) and for [M([24]aneS8)][OTf]2 (M = Sn, Pb). In all cases, the ligand is bound in an endocyclic fashion, but the coordination environment and number are highly dependent on the group 14 ion, the macrocyclic ring size, and the number of S-donor atoms it presents. Solution NMR spectroscopic data suggest that the metal-macrocycle coordination is retained in solution but that the triflate anions are extensively dissociated on the NMR timescale. Density functional theory calculations on the [M([9]aneS3)]2+ and [M([12]aneS4)]2+ (M = Ge, Sn, Pb) dications reveal that the HOMO is centered on the group 14 atom as a directional lone pair; it also retains a significant amount of positive charge.

Automated summary

A series of M(II) (M = Ge, Sn, Pb) complexes with endocyclic thioether macrocyclic coordination and varying coordination numbers have been synthesized. The ligand is bound in an endocyclic manner, and the coordination environment and number are dependent on the group 14 ion, macrocyclic ring size, and number of S-donor atoms. The stability of the metal-macrocycle coordination in solution and the dissociation of triflate anions were investigated.