Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and vulcanization activity of a new compound containing the anion bis(4-methylphenylsulfonyldithiocarbimato)zincate(II)

A new compound of the formula: (Bu₄N)₂[Zn(4-CH₃C₆H₄SO₂NCS₂)₂] (Bu₄N = tetrabutylammonium cation) was obtained by the reaction of CH₃C₆H₄SO₂NCS₂K₂ · 2H₂O with zinc(II) acetate dihydrate and tetrabutylammonium bromide in dimethylformamide. The elemental analyses of C, H, N and Zn are consistent with the proposed formula. The IR data point to the formation of a zinc(II)-bis(dithiocarbimato) complex. The ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra showed the expected signals for the tetrabutylammonium cation and the dithiocarbimato moiety. This compound was evaluated as for the vulcanization activity and compared to the commercial accelerators CBS, MBTS and TMTD. These studies showed that the zinc(II)-ditiocarbimates are a new class of rubber vulcanization accelerators, worth of further investigation.