Thiolate derivatives of titanium(IV) and tantalum(V) as precursors to metal sulfides

Reaction of Ta(NMe2)(5) with 10 equivalents of 2,6-Me2C6H3SH in toluene res ulted in the formation of bright red crystals of [Ta(SC6H3Me2-2,6)(4)(NMe2) ] (1). The related reaction between Ti(NEt2)(4) and 10 equivalents of Bu'SH in toluene afforded a mixture of two complexes, [Ti(SBut)(4)] (3) and [Ti( SBut)(3)(NEt2)] (4). X-Ray crystal structures of 1 and 4 have been determin ed. Vapour phase thin-film studies of compounds 1 and 3/4 revealed that 1 i s not an effective tantalum sulfide precursor whereas 3/4 produced TiS2,.