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Three molecular structures are reported which utilize the NiN(2)S(2) ligands -, (bis(mercaptoethyl)diazacyclooctane)nickel and -', bis(mercaptoethyl)diazacycloheptane)nickel, as metallodithiolate ligands to rhodium in oxidation states i, ii and iii. For the Rh(I) complex, the NiN(2)S(2) unit behaves as a bidentate ligand to a square planar Rh(I)(CO)(PPh(3))(+) moiety with a hinge or dihedral angle (defined as the intersection of NiN(2)S(2) and S(2)Rh(C)(P) planes) of 115 degrees . Supported by -' ligands, the Rh(II) oxidation state occurs in a dirhodium C(4) paddlewheel complex wherein four NiN(2)S(2) units serve as bidentate bridging ligands to two singly-bonded Rh(II) ions at 2.893(8) A apart. A compilation of the remarkable range of M-M distances in paddlewheel complexes which use NiN(2)S(2) complexes as paddles is presented. The Rh(III) state is found as a tetrametallic [Rh(-')(3)](3+) cluster, roughly shaped like a boat propeller and structurally similar to tris(bipyridine)metal complexes.

The molecular structure of the acetyl CoA synthase enzyme has clarified the role of individual nickel atoms in the dinickel active site which mediates C-C and C-S coupling reactions. The NiN2S2 portion of the biocatalyst (N2S2 = a cysteine-glycine-cysteine or CGC4- tripeptide ligand) serves as an S-donor ligand comparable to classical bidentate ligands operative in organometallic chemistry, ligating the second nickel which is redox and catalytically active. Inspired by this biological catalyst, the synthesis of NiN2S2 metalloligands, including the solid-phase synthesis of resin-bound Ni(CGC)2-, and sulfur-based derivatization with W(CO)5 and Rh(CO)2+ have been carried out. Through comparison to analogous well-characterized, solution-phase complexes, Attenuated Total Reflectance FTIR spectroscopy establishes the presence of unique heterobimetallic complexes, of the form [Ni(CGC)]M(CO)x, both in solution and immobilized on resin beads. This work provides the initial step toward exploitation of such an evolutionarily optimized nickel peptide as a solid support anchor for hybrid bioinorganic-organometallic catalysts.

The physical properties and structures of a series of six complexes of the type (NiN(2)S(2))W(CO)(4) have been used to establish electronic and steric parameters for square planar NiN(2)S(2) complexes as bidentate, S-donor ligands. According to the nu(CO) stretching frequencies and associated computed Cotton-Kraihanzel force constants of the tungsten carbonyl adducts, there is little difference in donor abilities of the five neutral NiN(2)S(2) metallodithiolate ligands in the series. The dianionic Ni(ema)(2)(-) (ema = N,N'-ethylenebis(2-mercaptoacetamide)) complex transfers more electron density onto the W(CO)(4) moiety. A ranking of donor abilities and a comparison with classical bidentate ligands is as follows: Ni(ema)(=) > {[NiN(2)S(2)](0)} > bipy approximately phen > Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2) > Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2). Electrochemical data from cyclic voltammetry find that the reduction event in the (NiN(2)S(2))W(CO)(4) derivatives is shifted to more positive potentials by ca. 0.5 V compared to the ca. -2 V Ni(II/I) redox event in the free NiN(2)S(2) ligand, consistent with the electron drain from the nickel-dithiolate ligands by the W(CO)(4) acceptor. Differences in Ni(II/I) DeltaE(1/2) values appear to have a ligand dependence which is related to a structural feature of the hinge angle imposed by the (mu-SR)(2) bridges. Thus the angle formed by the intersection of NiN(2)S(2)/WS(2)C(2) planes has been established by X-ray diffraction analyses as a unique orientational feature of the nickel-dithiolate ligands in contrast to classical diphosphine or diimine ligands and ranges in value from 136 to 107 degrees . Variable-temperature (13)C NMR studies show that the spatial orientations of the ligands remained fixed with respect to the W(CO)(4) moiety to temperatures of 100 degrees C.