The structure of the title compound, bis[mu-D-3-mercaptovalinato(1- )-
1 kappa N, 1:2 kappa(2)S;2 kappa N, 1:2 kappa S-bis[(eta(6)-mesitylene
)ruthenium] dichloride tetrahydrate, Ru-2(C-5-H10NO2S)(2)(eta(6)-C9H12
)(2)]Cl-2.4H(2)O, contains tridentate anionic amino acid ligands, wher
e the S atoms adopt bridging positions between the two Ru atoms result
ing in a near planar Ru-S-Ru-S ring. The coordination at each Ru atom
is completed by an amino N atom of the chelating ligand and the eta(6)
-bonded mesitylene ring.