Thioacid rhenium sulfide dimer compositions and their preparation

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a new class of rhenium 1,1-dithioacid complexes and their method of preparation. The complexes have the general formula [L₂Re(µ-S) ]₂ wherein L is a dithioacid or similar ligand, and µ denotes the fact that the sulfur atoms in the core of the complex bridge the two rhenium atoms in the complex. Thus, the core structure for such typical compounds is generally of the form: where the dangling valences are associated with the sulfur atoms of a 1,1-dithioacid, L. The complexes are prepared by mixing a nonaqueous solution of a tetrathioperrhenate with a disulfide which, upon reduction, gives a 1,1-dithiolate ligand, until the complexes are formed.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to novel neutral dimeric rhenium dithioacid complexes and their method of preparation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various rhenium dithiocarbamate complexes have been reported in the literature. (See, for example, Rowbottom et al., J. Chem. Soc. Dalton , 1972, pp. 826-830; Rowbottom et al., J. Chem. Soc. Dalton , 1974, pp. 684-689; Fletcher et al., J. Chem. Soc. Dalton , 1974, pp. 486-489; Gorden et al., Inorg. Chem. , 1983, 22, pp. 157-167, and Colton et al., J. Chem. Soc. , 1960, pp. 5275-5276. None of these references disclose a rhenium dithioacid complex containing bridging sulfido ligands in a core similar to that which constitutes an essential feature of this invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, the present invention encompasses a new class of rhenium dithioacid complexes and their method of preparation. The complexes have the general formula [L₂Re(µ-S)]₂ wherein L is a dithioacid or similar ligand, and µ denotes the fact that the sulfur atoms in the core of the complex bridge the two rhenium atoms in the complex. Thus, the core structure for such typical compounds is generally of the form: where the dangling valences represent coordination by the ligands, L. The compositions are made by reacting tetrathioperrhenate salts such as tetraalkyl ammonium tetrathioperrhenate, with a disulfide which upon reduction gives a 1,1-dithiolate ligand. The compositions are useful as catalysts and catalyst precursors used, for example, in the catalytic dehydropolymerization of tetrahydroquinoline. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The sole Figure is a depiction of the molecular structure, with the hydrogen atoms omitted, of a complex according to the invention in which the ligand L is diethyldithiocarbamate. In the Figure a labeling scheme is included to designate relative positions of certain individual atoms. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The neutral dimeric rhenium dithioacid complexes of the present invention may be represented by the formula [L₂Re(µ-S)]₂ wherein L is 1,1-dithioacid ligand which may be a dithiocarbamate, xanthate, dithiophosphate, dithiophosphinate, or other similar ligand, and wherein µ denotes the fact that the sulfur atoms in the core of the complex bridge the two rhenium atoms. The preferred ligand is a dithiocarbamate (S₂CNR₂) wherein R is independently a hydrogen or C₁-C₂₄ branched, linear or cycloalkyl group, e.g. preferably methyl, ethyl, n-propyl isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, or the like; a C₆-C₂₄ aryl, alkyl aryl or aralkyl group or wherein NR₂ is a morpholino group. The ligands preferably are all of the same type; however, such is not absolutely necessary. The compounds of the present invention can be represented by the following general structure: wherein the dangling valences are associated with a ligand L, as defined above. As indicated, the preferred ligand L is a dithiocarbamate, and in such instance the dimer will have the following structure: These compositions may be made by reacting a tetrathioperrhenate salt, MReS₄, with a disulfide which upon reduction gives a 1,1-dithiolate ligand. Preferably, the cation M in the salt MReS₄ is selected from quaternary ammonium, phosphonium and arsonium groups, and especially tetralkyl ammonium groups. Examples of such cations include tetraethyl ammonium, tetraphenyl phosphonium ion, tetraphenyl arsonium ion and the like. The preparation of tetrathioperrhenate salts is known and forms no part of this invention. In general, it is preferred to carry out the reaction of the tetrathioperrhenate salt with the disulfide of the appropriate ligand in a solution of an organic solvent. Typical solvents include acetonitrile, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran and toluene. Acetonitrile is particularly preferred. Basically, the reactant are mixed for a time sufficient for the formation of the complex. Indeed, the extent of reaction can be visually estimated by noting the amount of solid precipitated from the solution. In general, the reaction can be conducted at room temperature and pressure. Preferably, the reaction is carried out under inert atmosphere, although this is not required. The following examples illustrate the present invention. EXAMPLES Example 1 Tetraethylammonium tetrathioperrhenate (0.25 g, 0.56 mmole) and tetraethylthiuramdisulfide (0.417 g, 1.41 mmole) were dissolved in 30 ml of deaerated acetonitrile. The resulting deep violet solution was stirred under inert atmosphere at room temperature for 18 hours, at which point a green precipitate was separated by filtration, washed with diethylether, and air dried to yield 0.325 g product. The product was characterized by infrared and electronic spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The IR spectral analysis show absorbances in the range of 600, to 250 cm⁻¹ which are characteristic of bridging sulfido ligands and R₂NCS₂-ligands bound to rhenium. The single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out as follows: Single crystals of [(C₂H₅)₂NHS₂]₄Re₂(µ-S)₂ suitable for X-ray diffraction analysis were grown by diffusion of diethylether into a dichloromethane solution of the complex. One crystal was selected and mounted on a computer-controlled Nicolet Autodiffractometer equipped with graphite monochromatized MoK α (λ = 0.71073 Å) radiation source. The crystal was found to be monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, with lattice constants a = 11.084(2), b 13.815(3), c = 19.945(4) Å, β = 92.23(2)°. Cell volume is 3052(2) Å³, Z = 2, and the density is 1.522 gm/cm⁻³. A total of 5571 reflections were recorded, and the structure determined from the intensities of these reflections following known procedures. As illustrated in the Figure, a molecule of Re₂(µ-S)₂[(C₂H₅)₂NCS₂]₄ contains 2 Re atoms bridged by 2 S²⁻ ligands. A crystallographic inversion center lies midway between the 2 Re atoms in the crystal studied. Each Re is also coordinated by 2 dithiocarbamate ligands, such that the Re atom is bound to a total of 6 S atoms (4 from the 2 dithiocarbamates, and 2 from the bridging sulfides). Selected bond lengths and angles characteristic of the rhenium dimer are given in Table I: Bond Length (Å) Bond Angle (°) Re₁-Re₂ 2.546(1) Re₁-S₁-Re₂ 68.1(1) Re₁-S₁ 2.275(3) S₅-Re₁-S₆ 70.6(1) Re₁-S₅ 2.511(3) S₁-Re₁-S₂ 111.9(1) Re₁-S₆ 2.430(3) S₁₀-Re₂-S₉ 70.5(1) Examples 2, 3, 4, and 5 In these examples, the procedure of Example 1 was followed except that R in the dithioacid ((R₂NCS₂)₂) used was either methyl, isopropyl, or butyl rather than ethyl as in Example 1. In one instance the dithioacid was morpholino. IR spectral data for the products (including the diethyl dithiocarbamate complex of Example 1) are tabulated in the table which follows: Example Dithiocarbamate Wave Number (cm⁻¹) 1 Dimethyl dithiocarbamate 2920(W)*, 1520(S), 1385(S), 1385(S), 1250(M), 1040(S), 980(M), 460(W), 420(M), 355(W) 2 Diethyl dithiocarbamate 2960(M), 2920(M), 1495(S), 1460(M), 1430(S), 1355(M), 1270(S), 1210(M), 1150(S), 1070(M), 1000(M), 920(M), 850(M), 780(M), 605(W), 570(W), 425(M), 355(W) 3 Diisopropyldithiocarbamate 2960(M), 1480(S), 1450(M), 1440(M), 1365(M), 1325(S), 1190(M), 1140(S), 1040(M), 850(W), 800(W), 850(M), 420(M), 370(W) 4 Diisobutyldithiocarbamate 2960(S), 2920(M), 2860(M), 1485(S), 1460(M), 1420(S), 1385(M), 1350(M), 1335(M), 1245(S), 1200(M), 1150(S), 980(W), 940(W), 880(W), 820(W), 625(W), 440(M), 350(W) 5 1-moryholine dithiocarbamate 2960(W), 2900(W), 2860(W), 1490(S), 1430(S), 1300(W), 1270(M), 1230(S), 1120(S), 1025(S), 1000(M), 885(M), 830(W), 670(W), 545(M), 430(M), 530(W) Notes 1 Å(Ångstrom unit) = 0.1 nm

Claims: A composition of matter having the formula [L₂Re(µ-S)]₂ wherein L is a 1,1-dithioacid and µ denotes that the sulfur atoms in the core of the composition bridge the rhenium atoms in the composition. The composition of claim 1 wherein L is selected from dithiocarbamates, xanthates, dithiophosphates, dithiophosphinates and mixtures thereof. The composition of claim 2 wherein L is a dithiocarbamate of the formula S₂CNR₂ and R is independently H, a C₁ to C₂₄ alkyl or cycloalkyl group, a C₆ to C₂₄ aryl, alkyl aryl or aralkyl group, or NR₂ is a morpholino group. The composition of claim 3 wherein R is an alkyl group. A method of preparing a composition of the formula [L₂Re(µ-S) ]₂ wherein L is a 1,1-dithioacid and µ signifies that the sulfur atoms in the core of the composition bridge the rhenium atoms therein, comprising: mixing a non-aqueous solution of a tetrathioperrhenate with disulfide which upon reduction gives a 1,1-dithiolate ligand, said mixing being for a time sufficient to form the composition. The method of claim 5 wherein said mixing is conducted at ambient temperature. The method of claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said non-aqueous solution is an acetonitrile solution. The method of any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein said disulfide is selected from dithiocarbamates, xanthates, dithiophosphates, dithiophosphinates and mixtures thereof.

Inventors: HALBERT THOMAS RISHER, STIEFEL EDWARD IRA, WEI LIWEN, HALBERT, THOMAS RISHER, STIEFEL, EDWARD IRA, WEI, LIWEN
Applicants: EXXON RESEARCH ENGINEERING CO, EXXON RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
Application year: 1989
Main classification: C07F13
IPC codes: C07F13, C01G47, C07C329, C07F9, C07C333