Rhodium induced titanium–sulfur bond cleavage: crystal and molecular structure of ((COD)Rh(μ-SMe))2
Reactions of Ti(III) and Ti(IV) thiolates with Rh complexes have been investigated. In the reaction of Cp2Ti(SMe)2 and [(COD)2Rh]BF4 or [(COD)Rh(sol)2]PF6, thiolate abstraction yields ((COD)Rh(μ-SMe))2, 1. Reaction of (Cp2Ti(μ-SMe))2 with ((COD)Rh(μ-Cl))2 results in ligand exchange affording (Cp2Ti(μ-Cl))2 and 1. The complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n, with a = 8.551(2) Å, b = 10.058(3) Å, c = 22.187(4) Å, β = 92.54(1)°, Z = 4, and V = 1906(1) Å3. The structural data show a relatively short approach between the Rh centres (2.948 Å) and between the bridging sulfur atoms (2.888 Å). The implications of these structural features in terms of metal–metal and sulphur–sulfur bonding are discussed. In addition, the implications of these results with respect to the formation of thiolato-bridged, early–late heterobimetallics is considered. Keywords: thiolate abstraction, rhodium thiolate bridged dimer.