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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework
Published on: April 9, 2018
Sensing of sulfur dioxide by base metal thiolates: structures and properties of molecular NiN2S2/SO2 adducts
Melissa L Golden1, Jason C Yarbrough, Joseph H Reibenspies
1Texas A&M University, Department of Chemistry, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.
Abstract:
The cis-dithiolate N2S2Ni complex bismercaptoethanediazacycloheptanenickel(II), (bme-dach)Ni or Ni-1', takes up two equivalents of sulfur dioxide in which thiolate-sulfur to SO2-sulfur interactions are well-defined by X-ray crystallography. Ni-1' x 2SO2, C9H18N2NiO4S4, yields monoclinic crystals belonging to the P2(1)/c space group: a = 10.308(4) angstroms, b = 13.334(5) angstroms, c = 10.842(4) angstroms, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 91.963(6) degrees, gamma = 90 degrees, and Z = 4. Further characterization by nu(SO) IR spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, electronic spectroscopy, and visual color changes upon reversible SO2 adduct formation establish Ni-1' and the analogous bismercaptoethanediazacyclooctane derivative, (bme-daco)Ni, Ni-1, to be viable candidates for technical development as chemical sensors of this noxious gas. Visual SO2 detection limits of Ni-1 and Ni-1' are established at 25 and 100 ppm, respectively. Both the Ni-1' x 2SO2 adduct and the Ni-1' reactant are air stable. In addition, the stability of Ni-1' x SO2 to vacuum and removal of SO2 by heating make Ni-1' a possible storage/controlled release complex for SO2 gas.
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