Bis(dicarbollide) Complexes of Transition Metals as a Platform for Molecular Switches. Study of Complexation of 8,8'-Bis(methylsulfanyl) Derivatives of Cobalt and Iron Bis(dicarbollides).

Complexation of the 8,8'-bis(methylsulfanyl) derivatives of cobalt and iron bis(dicarbollides) [8,8'-(MeS)-3,3'-M(1,2-CBH)] (M = Co, Fe) with copper, silver, palladium and rhodium leads to the formation of the corresponding chelate complexes, which is accompanied by a transition from the to the conformation of the bis(dicarbollide) complex. This transition is reversible and can be used in design of coordination-driven molecular switches based on transition metal bis(dicarbollide) complexes. The solid-state structures of {(PhP)ClPd[8,8'- (MeS)-3,3'-Co(1,2-CBH)-κ-S,S']} and {(COD)Rh[8,8'-(MeS)-3,3'-Co(1,2-CBH)-κ-S,S']} were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.