C-S bond cleavage of pyridine-2-thiol: A new functionality of quadruply bridged dinuclear platinum and palladium complexes

Treatment of pyridine-2-thiol (pytH) with H-2 (60 atm) in the presence of 5-methylpyridine-2-thiolate (5-mpyt)-bridged dinuclear Pt(III), Pt(II), or Pd(II) complexes (1 mol %) in DMF at 150 C for 72 h leads to the formation of pyridine in 3-51% yield. From the H-1 NMR study of the exchange reactions and of the products under D-2 pressure, it is suggested that the catalytic reaction involves bimetallic activation of the pyt ligand followed by the liberation of pyridine and H2S.