The transmetalation reaction of Hg(SPy)(2) (SPy = S-2-NC5H4) with Eu i
n pyridine gives the europium(II) pyridinethiolate coordination comple
x (py)(4)Eu(SPy)(2) (1) in 96% isolated yield. The reaction of 1 with
BIPY in THF results in displacement of the pyridine ligands and the fo
rmation of the divalent coordination complex (BIPY)(TI-IF),Eu(SPy)2 (2
). Low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments show t
hat 1 and 2 are molecular 8 coordinate compounds. They are both intens
ely colored due to the presence of a visible europium-to-pyridine or e
uropium-to-BTPY charge transfer (CT) absorption band. Trivalent [PEt(4
)][Eu(SPy)(4)] (3) was prepared from the reaction of Eu/Hg amalgam wit
h PySSPy in the presence of [PEt(4)][SPy]. X-ray diffraction analysis
of 3 shows that all the pyridinechalcogenolate ligands are chelating t
he Eu(III) ion and there are three different eight coordinate isomers
within the unit cell. Compound 3 is intensely colored because of a vis
ible S-to-Eu CT absorption. At 500 degrees C, 3 decomposes to give EuS
and a mixture of PySSPy, PySPy, EtSPy, and SPEt(3). Crystal data (Mo
Ka, 153(5) K): 1, orthorhombic space group Pna2/1, a = 19.006(2) Angst
rom, b = 9.724(5) Angstrom, c 15.592(5) Angstrom, z = 4; 2, monoclinic
space group Cc, a 9.851(2) Angstrom, b = 16.817(3) Angstrom, c = 17.2
71(2) Angstrom, beta = 92.67(2)degrees, Z = 4; 3, monoclinic space gro
up P2(1)/n, a = 15.043(3) Angstrom, b = 16.036(6) Angstrom, c 26.444(5
) Angstrom, beta = 90.54(2)degrees, Z = 4.