M–H–BR3 and M–Br–BR3 interactions in rhodium and nickel complexes of an ambiphilic phosphine–thioether–borane ligand

Reaction of [Rh(μ-Cl)(CO)(TXPB)] (1; TXPB = 2,7-di-tert-butyl-5-diphenylboryl-4-diphenylphosphino-9,9-dimethylthioxanthene) with NaBH 4 yielded square planar [Rh(μ-H)(CO)(TXPB)] (2) in which the hydride ligand bridges between rhodium and the borane unit of TXPB. The Rh–H, Rh–B, and Rh–C ipso distances are short at 1.84(5), 2.456(6), and 2.568(5) Å, respectively, whereas the B–H bond, 1.59(6) Å, falls at the longer end of the usual range. …