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Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework
Published on: April 9, 2018
Structure-directing sulfur...metal noncovalent semicoordination bonding
Ivan V Ananyev1, Nadezhda A Bokach2, Vadim Yu Kukushkin2
1Laboratory of X-ray Structural Studies, Institute of Organoelement Compounds (INEOS) of RAS, Vavilova Str., 28, Moscow, 119991, Russian Federation.
This study reveals that metal-sulfur interactions in late transition metal complexes are primarily semicoordination bonds. These interactions, analyzed via CSD and DFT, play a key role in stabilizing complex conformations.
Area of Science:
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Computational Chemistry
- Crystallography
Background:
- Nonbonding contacts between metal centers and sulfur atoms are prevalent in late transition metal complexes.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for predicting and controlling complex structures and reactivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the geometric features and nature of nonbonding contacts between metal centers and sulfur atoms.
- To investigate the role of these interactions in stabilizing metal complex conformations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD).
- Theoretical analysis using Density Functional Theory (DFT) on model complexes.
- Application of real-space (QTAIM, NCI, ELF, IQA) and orbital (NBO) methods.
Main Results:
- Shortened R-S...M contacts with specific angular arrangements are common in late transition metals.
- DFT analysis confirms predominant semicoordination bonds between nucleophilic sulfur and electrophilic metal sites.
- A smaller contribution of chalcogen bonding was also identified.
- Intramolecular R-S...M interactions were found to stabilize specific conformations.
Conclusions:
- Metal-sulfur interactions in these complexes are mainly semicoordination, driven by electrostatic attractions.
- These interactions significantly influence the conformational preferences of metal complexes.
- The findings align with crystallographic data and provide a deeper understanding of bonding in organometallic compounds.
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