Zinc complexes of the new N,N,S ligand N-(2-mercaptoisobutyl)(picolyl)amine

The title ligand MBPAH was obtained from 2-picolylamine and 2,2-dimethylthi irane. It forms the 2:1 zinc complex (MBPA)(2)Zn, assumed to have a ZnN2S2 coordination with two uncoordinated nitrogen donor functions. Treatment of (MBPA)2Zn with alkylating agents or reaction of MBPAH with Zn(ClO4)(2) yiel ded the complexes [(MBPA)(4)Zn-3]X-2 which were found by structure determin ations to contain one ZnS4 and two ZnN4S2 units in the trinuclear cations. Zinc acetate and MBPAH formed the thiolate-bridged dinuclear complex [(MBPA )Zn(OAc)](2) which according to its structure determination contains two Zn N2S2O units. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.