Synthesis and oxygenation of a nickel(II) and zinc(II) dithiolate: an experimental and theoretical comparison

The diamino-dithiolato N2S2 ligand N,N'-bis-2-methyl-mercaptopropyl-N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine, H2bmmp-dmed), and its nickel (1) and zinc (2) complexes have been prepared and their reactivities with hydrogen peroxide investigated. Complex 1 yields a mixture of sulfenato (RSO-), 4, sulfinato (RSO2-), 3, and sulfonato (RSO3-), 5, products upon addition of H2O2. Products are separable by column chromatography. Stoichiometric addition of H2O2 to 2 yields an inseparable mixture. Excess peroxide addition results in oxygenation of the ligand to the disulfonate, 6, and decomplexation of zinc. Complexes 1, 2, and 3 and compound 6 have been investigated by X-ray crystallography, and their structures are reported. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of 1 and 2 reveal significant sulfur p character in the HOMO of each complex. However, 1 also shows significant metal d character that is pi-antibonding with respect to the sulfur p orbitals. Complex 2 shows little metal character in the HOMO. Implications of the HOMO with respect to S-centered reactivity and metal ligand distances in S-oxygenated products are provided.