The direct electrochemical synthesis of thiolato complexes of cobalt and nickel, and the crystal structure of bis(phenylthiolato)bis(1,10-phenanthroline)cobalt(III) perchlorate

Abstract

Cobalt(II) and nickel(II) thiolates, M(SR)2, can be prepared in high yield by the electrochemical oxidation of a metal anode in an acetonitrile or acetone solution of RSH (R = C6H5, o-CH3C6H4, 2-C10H7, 2,3,4,5-C6F4H; not all combinations). When 2,2-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline (=L) is added to the electrolyte phase, the products are the adducts M(SR)2L2. In the case of Co(SC6H5)2(phen)2, aerial oxidation leads to the formation of the cobalt(III) cation [Co(SC6H5)2(phen)2]+, isolated as the perchlorate salt. X-ray crystallographic analysis showed that this cation has a cis-CoS2(N2)2 kernel.