Preparation of chalcogenolato-bridged dinuclear Tp*Rh-Cp*Ru complexes (Tp*= hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate, Cp*=eta(5)-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) and binding of dioxygen to their Ru sites.

Reactions of [TpRh(coe)(MeCN)](1; Tp= hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl); coe = cyclooctene) with one equiv of diphenyl dichalcogenides PhEEPh (E = Se, Te) afforded the mononuclear Rh(III) complexes [TpRh(EPh)(2)(MeCN)](2b: E = Se; 2c: E = Te), as reported previously for the formation of Tp*Rh(SPh)(2)(MeCN) from the reaction of 1 and PhSSPh. Complexes 2a-2c were treated with the Ru(II) complex [(CpRu)(4)(mu(3)-Cl)(4)](Cp*=eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)) in THF at room temperature, yielding the chalcogenolato-bridged dinuclear complexes TpRhCl(mu-EPh)(2)RuCp(MeCN). Complex 3a (E = S) in solution was converted slowly into a mixture of 3a and the sterically less encumbered dinuclear complex TpRhCl(SPh)(mu-eta(1)-S-eta(6)-Ph)RuCp at room temperature. In 4a, one SPh group binds only to the Rh center as a terminal ligand, while the other SPh group bridges the Rh and Ru atoms by coordinating to the former at the S atom and to the latter with the Ph group in a pi fashion. The Se analogue 3b also underwent a similar transformation under more forcing conditions, e.g. in benzene at reflux, whereas formation of the mu-eta(1)-Te-eta(6)-Ph complex was not observed for the Te analogue 3c even under these forcing conditions. When complexes 3 was dissolved in THF exposed to air, the MeCN ligand bound to Ru was substituted by dioxygen to give the peroxo complexes [Tp*RhCl(mu-EPh)(2)RuCp*(eta(2)-O(2))](5a: E = S; 5b: E = Se; 5c: E = Te). X-Ray analyses have been undertaken to determine the detailed structures for 2c, 3a, 3b, 4a, 5a, 5b, and 5c.