Heterobimetallic complexes of palladium and platinum containing a redox-active W[SNS]2 metalloligand.

Complexes of the general formula W[SNS]2M(dppe) (M = Pd, Pt; [SNS]H3 = bis(2-mercapto-p-tolyl)amine; dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) were prepared by combining the corresponding (dppe)MCl2 synthon with W[SNS]2 under reducing conditions. X-ray diffraction studies revealed the formation of a heterobimetallic complex supported by a single thiolate bridging ligand and a short metal-metal bond between the tungsten and palladium or platinum. Electrochemical and computational results show that the frontier orbitals lie predominantly on the W[SNS]2 fragment suggesting that it behaves as a redox-active metalloligand in these complexes.