Transition Metal Complexes of Chromium, Molybdenum, Tungsten, and Manganese Containing η1(S)-2,5-Dimethylthiophene, Benzothiophene, and Dibenzothiophene Ligands

Ultraviolet photolysis of hexanes solutions containing the complexes M(CO)6 (M = Cr, Mo, W) or CpMn(CO)3 (Cp = η5-C5H5) and excess thiophene (T*) (T* = 2,5-dimethylthiophene (2,5-Me2T), benzothiophene (BT), or dibenzothiophene (DBT)) produces the η1(S)-T* complexes (CO)5M(η1(S)-T*) 1−8 or Cp(CO)2Mn(η1(S)-T*) 9−11, respectively. However, when T* = DBT and M = Mo, a mixture of two products results, which includes (CO)5Mo(η1(S)-DBT), 4a, and the π-complex (CO)3Mo(η6-DBT), 4b, as detected by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Only the complexes (CO)5W(η1(S)-DBT) (1), (CO)5Cr(η1(S)-DBT) (5), and Cp(CO)2Mn(η1(S)-DBT) (9) were sufficiently stable (several days) to be isolated and characterized by elemental analyses. Rates of DBT ligand displacement by CO (1 atm) at room temperature decreased in the order 5 > 1 > 9. Single-crystal, X-ray structural determinations are reported for 1, 5, and 9. The tilt angle (θ) of the DBT ligand in these and related complexes is discussed in terms of π-back-bonding to the DBT ligand.