SYNTHESES, CRYSTAL-STRUCTURES, SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION, AND ELECTROCHEMICAL STUDIES OF THE DITUNGSTEN(III) COMPLEXES CL3W(MU-L)(3)WCL3 AND [CL3W(MU-L)(2)(MU-CL)WCL3](-) (L = 1,4-DITHIANE, 1,4-THIOXANE, PMS = PENTAMETHYLENE SULFIDE) - C-S BOND-CLEAVAGE OF THE BRIDGING THIOETHER(S) IN CL3W(MU-L)(3)WCL3

Reduction of WCl4 with 1 equiv of sodium amalgam, in the presence of e ither a refluxing toluene or neat solution of the desired thioether, p roduces a mixture of Cl3W(mu-L)(3)WCl3 (L = 1,4-dithiane (1), 1,4-thio xane (2), pms = pentamethylene sulfide (3)) and [Na] [Cl3W(mu-L)(2)(mu -Cl)WCl3] (L = 1,4-dithiane (4), 1,4-thioxane (5), pms (6)). 4 and 5 c ould be converted to 1 and 2, respectively, in the presence of excess L in refluxing toluene. The structures of 1; 2, 3, 7, and 8 have been solved. 1, 2, and 3 are the first reported crystal structures for ditu ngsten(III) tris-bridged cyclic thioether complexes. Crystal data are as follows: for an acetone solvate of 1, monoclinic space group P2(1)/ n (No. 14), a = 12.518(3) Angstrom, b = 9.475(2) Angstrom, c = 27.408( 3) Angstrom, beta = 93.34(1)degrees, Z = 4; for an acetone solvate of 2, tetragonal space group P4/ncc (No. 130), a = 25.7603(3) Angstrom, b = 25.7603(3) Angstrom, c = 18.6771(2) Angstrom, Z = 16; for a hexane solvate of 3, monoclinic space group P2(1)/n (No. 14), a = 11.874(4) A ngstrom, b = 21.823(3) Angstrom, c = 12.545(3) Angstrom, beta = 100.46 (3)degrees, Z = 4; for an acetonitrile solvate of 7, monoclinic space group P2(1)/c (No. 14), a = 9.704(5) Angstrom, b = 28.241(7) Angstrom, c = 15.480(5) Angstrom, beta = 98.55(4)degrees, Z = 4; for a chlorofo rm solvate of 8, monoclinic space group P2(1)/a (No. 14), a = 13.531(4 ) Angstrom, b = 25.207(5) Angstrom, c = 14.083(3) Angstrom, beta = 115 .57(2)degrees Z = 4. 1, 2, and 3 were all shown to undergo C-S bond cl eavage of a bridging thioether by reaction with [PPh4][Sptol] (ptol = 4-methyl phenyl) to afford the anionic complexes 2CH2)(2)E)(2)(mu-SCH( 2)CH(2)ECH(2)CH(2)sptol)WCl3] (E = S (9), O (10), CH2 (12)). 1, 2, 7, and 8 undergo reversible one-electron reductions.