The reactions of [M(PEt
3)
3] (M = Pt (
1), Pd (
2), Ni (
3)) with 3-ch
lorothiophene, 2-ch
lorothiophene, 3-nitrothiophene, 2-nitrothiophene, 2-methoxythiophene, 3-methoxythiophene,2-acety
lthiophene, and 3-acety
lthiophene afforded thiap
latinacyc
les of the type [(Et
3P)
2M(
C,S-C
4H
3RS)], (for M = Pt, R = C
l (
4 and
5), NO
2 (
6 and
7), MeO (
8 and
9), Ac (
10 and
11);for M = Pd, R = C
l (
12 and
13), NO
2 (
14), MeO (
15 and
16), Ac (
17 and
18), for M = Ni, R= C
l (
19)). When
3 and 2-ch
lorothiophene were reacted, another compound resu
lting fromthe oxidative addition of the C-C
l bond cou
ld be iso
lated, with the formu
lation [(Et
3P)
2Ni(C
l)(
1-T)] (
20). Additiona
lly the reaction of
3 with 2-nitrothiophene produced a compoundderived from a C-H activation reaction, [(Et
3P)
2Ni(H)(
1-NO
2T)] (
21). The thiap
latinacyc
les
8-
11 were shown to be active intermediates in HDS reactions, under cata
lytic conditions,to give 81 cyc
les at 300 psi, 100
C in THF, in the presence of meta
llic mercury. Crysta
lstructures are reported for
4 and
7.