Dinuclear triple-stranded complexes of Re(V) with bis(benzene-o-dithiolato) ligands

The reaction of K(2)ReCl(6) with 1,2-bis(2,3-dimercaptobenzamido)ethane (H(4)-1), and 1,2-bis(2,3-dimercaptobenzamido)benzene (H(4)-2) in the presence of Na(2)CO(3) in methanol affords dinuclear complexes of Re(V). Experimental evidence supports the presence of self-assembled complexes with two {Re(S(2)C(6)H(3))(3)} units connected in a triple-stranded fashion. Density Functional Theory (DFT) studies on geometry and electronic properties were conducted employing the hybrid B3LYP and PBE1PBE functionals. The helical (ΔΔ and ΛΛ) and meso-helical (ΔΛ) isomers were considered. For the helicate complexes included in this study, differences in the stability of the isomers were observed originating in different steric and strain interactions between the three ligand strands. The geometries at the minimum exhibit a distorted trigonal-prismatic coordination environment at the metal centers. Natural bond orbitals (NBO) analysis indicates the presence of Re-S bonds which are strongly polarized toward the non-metal. Time-Dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations were performed for a further understanding of the optical spectra. The calculations show the occupied 5d orbitals of the rhenium lying beneath occupied sulfur-based MOs. The general features of the electronic spectra in the visible region are reasonably reproduced by the calculations. The analysis of molecular orbitals also allows the assignment of the origin for all experimentally detected absorption bands. In the high-energy region of the spectrum the absorptions are attributed to ligand-to-metal-ligand charge transfer (LMLCT), in which sulfur-based orbitals and unoccupied orbitals at the rhenium atom and the benzene-o-dithiolato groups are involved. Also in the blue region, shoulders originating from LMLCT are observed.