Bis(pyrazolylethyl)thioether ligation to zinc and cadmium: structural characterization of [S(CH2CH2pzMe2)2]ZnCl2, [S(CH2CH2pzMe2)2]CdI2 and [S(CH2CH2pzMe2)2]Cd(NO3)2

Structural characterization of [S(CH₂CH₂pz^Me₂)₂]ZnCl₂ by X-ray diffraction demonstrates that the potentially tridentate [NNS] donor ligand S(CH₂CH₂pz^Me₂)₂ does not coordinate via sulfur, but only binds through the pyrazolyl groups. Furthermore, the ligand does not chelate, but preferentially bridges two zinc centers, thereby resulting in a polymeric, helical, structure. In contrast to the zinc system, the thioether functionality does bind to cadmium in related derivatives, [S(CH₂CH₂pz^Me₂)₂]CdI₂ and [S(CH₂CH₂pz^Me₂)₂]Cd(NO₃)₂.