Synthesis and X-Ray Structures of Zinc(II) and Cadmium(II) Heteroleptic Complexes Involving 1,1-Dithiolate and N -Donor Ligands

A series of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes, involving a combination of S –donor (xanthates and dithiophosphates) and N -donor (1,10-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2′–bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine) ligands, of the composition [Cd(S 2 CO n Pr) 2 (2,2′-bipy)] (1) , [Cd(S 2 CO n Pr) 2 (1,10-phen)] (2) , [Cd(S 2 P(OEt) 2 ) 2 (2,2′-bipy)] (3) , [Cd(S 2 P(OEt) 2 ) 2 (1,10-phen)] (4) , [Zn(S 2 CO n Pr) 2 (2,2′-bipy)] (5) , [Zn(S 2 CO n Pr) 2 (1,10-phen)] (6) , [Zn(S 2 P(OEt) 2 ) 2 (2,2′-bipy)] (7) , and [Zn(S 2 P(OEt) 2 ) 2 (1,10-phen)] (8) was prepared.

The complexes ( 1 – 8 ) were characterized by elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray analysis. X-ray structures revealed that the coordination geometries vary from octahedral (complexes 1 – 4 ), through square-pyramidal (complexes 5 and 6 ) to tetrahedral (complexes 7 and 8 ), depending on a combination of the central metal atoms and the corresponding S -donor and N -donor ligands. Similarities and discrepancies among the individual molecular structures as well as noncovalent contacts stabilizing crystal structures are discussed in more detail.