Synthesis and characterization of half-sandwich Ir and Ru complexes containing Mnt ligand (Mnt = maleonitriledithiolate)

The reaction of [Cp∗IrCl2]2 and [(p-Cymene)RuCl2]2 with disodium maleonitriledithiolate (Na2Mnt) yield the 16-electron complexes Cp∗Ir(Mnt) (1) and [(p-Cymene)Ru(Mnt)] (2). Complexes 1 and 2 can further react with PPh3 to form the corresponding 18-electron complexes Cp∗Ir(Mnt)PPh3 (3) and [(p-Cymene)Ru(Mnt)PPh3] (4). All complexes have been fully characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, as well as elemental analysis. The molecular structures of 1 and 4 have been confirmed by X-ray crystallography.