Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and X-ray crystal structure of 2-(4-methylpyridinium)-5-(4-pyridinium)-1,3-dithiolane-2,4-dicarboxylic aciddithiocyanate monohydrate

2-(4-Methylpyridinium)-5-(4-pyridinium)- 1,3-dithiolane-2,4-dicarboxylic ac id dithiocyanate monohydrate (2) was obtained by a spontaneous double elect rophilic addition reaction between two molecules of 3-(4-pyridine)-2-mercap topropenoic acid (1), and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The struc ture of 2, isolated as crystals, was determined by X-ray diffraction method : monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 8.5174(7) Angstrom, b = 7.4996(5) Angstrom, beta = 34.014(3) Angstrom, beta = 93.303(7)degrees V = 2169.1(3) Angstrom(3), Z = 4. in the lattice of 2 the stability is mainly due to intra and intermol ecular stack formation between the aromatic ring system of pyridine and the carboxylic groups. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.