Tri- and pentanuclear tungsten-(mu-S)-M clusters (M = W, Cu, Ag).

The thiotungstate [Et4N]2[OW(WS4)2], [Et4N]2.1, containing the linear [[S2W(VI)(mu-S)2]2W(IV)=O] core, was prepared from [Et4N]2[WS4] in the presence of the sulfide scavenger Cd2+. Addition of 1,2-bis(o-diphenylphosphinophenyl)ethane (diphosphine) and Cu+ or Ag+ to solutions of 1 in MeCN/DMF led to coordination of the (diphosphine)Cu/Ag fragments to the terminal sulfido ligands of 1, yielding novel linear pentanuclear, heterometallic clusters [mu-[OW(IV)(DMF)(W(VI)S4)2][M(diphosphine)]2], 2 (M = Cu) and 3 (M = Ag). Along with 2, the trinuclear cluster [[mu-(W(VI)S4)[Cu(diphosphine)(2)]], 4, was also obtained. The molecular and crystal structures of [Et4N]2.1, 2.MeCN, 3.MeCN, and 4.2MeCN.CH2Cl2 have been determined.