Coordination diversity of N-phosphoryl-N′-phenylthiourea (LH) towards CoII, NiII and PdII cations: Crystal structure of ML2-N,S and ML2-O,S chelates

Thiourea, PhNHC(S)NHP(O)(OPri)2 (LH) chelates of CoII, NiII, and PdII ions have been obtained and investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, UV, IR, NMR spectroscopy, and EI mass-spectrometry. The unusual 1,3-N,S-coordination via sulfur and NP(O) nitrogen atoms has been found in the trans-square-planar NiL2 and PdL2 complexes, whereas the 1,5-O,S-coordination is realized in the tetrahedral CoL2 complex. DFT calculations have revealed significant stabilization of the 1,3-N,S-structures due to stronger crystal field and the NH–Odouble bond; length as m-dashP hydrogen bonds.