Synthesis and electrochemistry of organometallic cobaltadithiaazulenes.

Reaction of tropolone or hinokitiol with phosphorus pentasulfide (P(2)S(5)) directly gives the sulfurized precursor [PS(2)(SST)](2) or [PS(2)(SSH)](2) (SST = dithiotropolonato or SSH = dithiohinokitiolato). The resulting [PS(2)(SST)](2) or [PS(2)(SSH)](2) is further reacted with [CpCoI(2)(CO)] (Cp = η(5)-cyclopentadienyl) to form the organometallic [CpCo(I)(SST)] (1) or [CpCo(I)(SSH)] (2), respectively. 1 and 2 have a cobaltadithiaazulene ring containing one cobalt and two sulfur atoms in the five-membered ring of azulene.