Synthesis and structure of [An(RO)PS2]- complexes.

Reaction of An(S)PS(2)P(S)An with NaOR [R = Me, Et, (i)Pr] gives the non-symmetric phosphonodithioato anions [An(RO)PS(2)](-) which can be complexed to a range of metals. The group 10 metals (Ni, Pd and Pt) adopt square planar ML(2) complexes. The zinc and cadmium complexes adopt isostructural dimeric M(2)L(4) structures whilst mercury complexes adopt a subtly different dimeric motif. Two distinctly different lead complexes are reported, one consisting of PbL(2) units joined by Pb...S interactions to form distinct dimeric pairs, the other being a completely new structural motif for complexes of this type, PbL(2) units held together by covalently bonded bridging ligands to form an infinite polymeric chain structure. All new compounds have been characterised spectroscopically and nine demonstrative X-ray structures are reported.