Reactions of Molybdenum and Tungsten Oxide Tetrafluoride with Sulfur(IV) Lewis Bases: Structure and Bonding in [WOF4]4, MOF4(OSO), and [SF3][M2O2F9] (M = Mo, W).

The structure of [WOF4]4 has been reinvestigated by low-temperature X-ray crystallography and DFT (MN15/def2-SVPD) studies. Whereas the W4F4 ring of the tetramer is planar and disordered in the solid state, the optimized gas-phase geometry prefers a disphenoidally puckered W4F4 ring and demonstrates asymmetric fluorine bridging. Dissolution of MOF4 (M = Mo, W) in SO2 and SF4 results in the formation of MOF4(OSO) and [SF3][M2O2F9], respectively. Both SO2 adducts and [SF3][Mo2O2F9] have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure of [SF3][Mo2O2F9] reveals dimerization of the ion pair that results in a rare heptacoordinate sulfur center. Optimization of the {[SF3][M2O2F9]}2 dimers in the gas phase, however, results in the elongation of one contact such that the sulfur centers are effectively hexacoordinate. Meanwhile, the crystal structure of [SF3][W2O2F9]·HF instead demonstrates hexacoordinate sulfur centers and a highly unusual coordination to [SF3]+ from [W2O2F9]- through an oxido ligand. While [SF3][W2O2F9] does not decompose at ambient temperature, MOF4(OSO) and [SF3][Mo2O2F9] are unstable toward evolution of SO2 or SF4. Computational studies reveal that the monomerization of [WOF4]4 in the gas phase at 25 °C is thermodynamically unfavorable using SO2, but favorable using SF4, consistent with the relative thermal stabilities of WOF4(OSO) and [SF3][W2O2F9].