Extending the coordination chemistry of cobalt with the metalloligand [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4]: Synthesis of the first cobalt(III) derivatives

The coordination chemistry of the metalloligand [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4] towards cobalt(II) and cobalt(III) centres has been explored using an electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI MS)-directed methodology. Reaction of [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4] with CoCl2·6H2O in methanol gave a green-yellow suspension of the known adduct [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4CoCl2], and the CoBr2 adduct could be similarly prepared. When in situ-generated [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4CoCl2] is reacted with 8-hydroxyquinoline (HQ) and base, the initial product is the cobalt(II) adduct [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4CoQ]+, which is then converted in air to the cobalt(III) adduct [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4CoQ2]+, isolated as its hexafluorophosphate salt. The corresponding picolinate (Pic) derivative [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4Co(Pic)2]+ was similarly prepared, however reaction of [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4], CoCl2·6H2O and 8-(tosylamino)quinoline (HTQ) produced only the cobalt(II) adduct [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4CoTQ]+. Reactions of [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4], CoCl2·6H2O and dithiocarbamates gave cobalt(III) complexes [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4Co(S2CNR2)2]+ [R = Et or R2 = (CH2)4], and proceeded much more rapidly, consistent with the known ability of the dithiocarbamate ligand to stabilize cobalt in higher oxidation states. A study of the fragmentation of cobalt(III) adducts by positive-ion ESI mass spectrometry indicated that [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4CoQ2]+ fragments to form the radical cation [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4]+, which could also be generated by ESI MS analysis of [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4] in methanol–NaOH solution. In contrast, the corresponding indium(III) derivative [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4InQ2]+, and the cobalt(III) dithiocarbamate [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4Co(S2CN(CH2)4)2]+ are much more reluctant to fragment under analogous conditions, and the differences are discussed in terms of cobalt(III) redox chemistry.