Synthesis and characterization of hydrogen-bonded assemblies of W6S8L6 clusters

Ligand-exchange reactions involving octahedral W6S8 clusters and a family of pyridine-based ligands (isonicotinic acid, isonicotinamide, 4-hydroxypyridine, 4-aminopyridine, 4-pyridineacetamide) have been explored with the goal of preparing compounds that crystallize in hydrogen-bonded arrays. Two new compounds, W6S8(4-pyridineacetamide)6.DMF.4-pyridineacetamide (1) and W6S8(4-aminopyridine)6.4DMF (2), were isolated and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both compounds crystallize in the P2(1)/c space group with a = 16.461(1), b = 33.08(2), c = 13.165(10) A, beta = 103.270(15) degrees for 1 and a = 13.8988(5), b = 13.2791(5), c = 15.6293(6) A, beta = 108.5410(10) degrees for 2. Each compound was further characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy, elemental (CHN) analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Examination of the structures shows that 1 forms a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network in which each 4-pyridineacetamide ligand interacts with ligands on neighboring clusters or with the free ligand of crystallization. This is the first hydrogen-bonded network formed from W6S8 clusters. In 2, the amino groups act as hydrogen-bond donors toward DMF molecules of crystallization, but an extended array is not formed. In addition, the binding strengths of these pyridine-based ligands to the W6S8 cluster were studied through quantitative 1H NMR studies of ligand-exchange reactions. A qualitative relationship was found between ligand binding strengths and Hammett substituent constants for this group of ligands.