Synthesis and characterization of diiron ethane-1,2-dithiolate complexes with tricyclohexylphosphine, methyl diphenylphosphinite, or tris(2-thienyl)phosphine coligands

We have prepared three diiron ethane-1,2-dithiolate complexes [Fe 2 (CO) 5 L( µ -SCH 2 CH 2 S)] [L = P(C 6 H 11 ) 3 , 2 ; Ph 2 POCH 3 , 3 ; P(2-C 4 H 3 S) 3 , 4 ] by CO exchange of the starting complex [Fe 2 (CO) 6 ( µ -SCH 2 CH 2 S)] ( 1 ) with the corresponding phosphine ligands tricyclohexylphosphine, methyl diphenylphosphinite, or tris(2-thienyl)phosphine in the presence of Me 3 NO as an oxidant for CO. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.