Reactivity of benzil bis(4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone) with cadmium nitrate. Crystal structure of [Cd(LMe2H4)(NO3)2][Cd(LMe2H4)(NO3)(H2O)]NO3 · H2O

The reaction between cadmium nitrate dihydrate and benzil bis(4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazone), LMe₂H₄, depends on the working conditions. In methanol the reaction gives the novel complex Cd(LMe₂H₄)(NO₃)₂]Cd(LMe₂H₄)(NO₃)(H₂O)]NO₃ · H₂O (1). Its crystal structure shows the presence of two cadmium atoms with different coordination numbers, seven and eight, and the ligands acting as N₂S₂ neutral molecules. One cadmium has the coordination sphere completed by a bidentate nitrato group and a water molecule, whereas the other one is bonded to two bidentate nitrato groups. Both molecules are joined to one nitrate ion and to an additional water molecule by hydrogen bonds. In the presence of lithium hydroxide, the reaction leads to a binuclear complex with the ligand doubly deprotonated Cd(LMe₂H₂)]₂ (2). The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, ¹³C and ¹¹³Cd CP/MAS NMR and, in the case of complex 1, by X-ray diffraction.