Redox-active nickel and cobalt tris(pyrazolyl)borate dithiocarbamate complexes: air-stable Co(II) dithiocarbamates.

A series of new cobalt(II) and nickel(II) tris(3,5-diphenylpyrazolyl)borate (Tp(Ph2)) dithiocarbamate complexes [Tp(Ph2)M(dtc)] (M = Co, dtc = S₂CNEt₂ 1, S₂CNBz₂ 2 and S₂CN(CH₂)₄ 3; M = Ni, dtc = S₂CNEt₂ 4, S₂CNBz₂ 5 and S₂CN(CH₂)₄ 6) have been prepared by the reaction of [Tp(Ph2)MBr] with Nadtc in CH₂Cl₂. IR spectroscopy indicates that the Tp(Ph2) ligand is κ³ coordinated while the dithiocarbamate ligand is κ² coordinated. ¹H NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy are consistent with high spin, five-coordinate metal centres. X-ray crystallographic studies of 1, 3 and 6 confirm the κ³ coordination of the Tp(Ph2) ligand and reveal an intermediate five-coordinate geometry with an asymmetrically coordinated dithiocarbamate ligand. Electrochemical studies of 1-6 reveal a metal centred reversible one-electron oxidation to M(III). Attempted oxidation of [Tp(Ph2)Co(dtc)] with [FeCpCp(COMe)]BF₄ yields [Co(dtc)₃], Hpz(Ph2) and a further product which may be [Tp(Ph2)CoBp(Ph2)]. DFT calculations indicate that the low redox potentials in these complexes result from a strongly antibonding M-S σ* HOMO.