Single-Crystal Structures of Benzenehexathiol and Its Disulfide Forms

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Crystallography
• Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

• Oligothiols are versatile building blocks for macrocycles, polymers, and coordination compounds.
• Benzenehexathiol (BHT) is crucial for constructing conductive 2D metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).
• The chemical instability of BHT has hindered its structural elucidation and purification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To obtain and determine the crystal structure of intact benzenehexathiol (BHT).
• To synthesize and characterize novel BHT derivatives with intermolecular disulfide bonds.
• To advance the understanding and application of BHT in materials science.

Main Methods:

• Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of intact BHT.
• Synthesis of BHT derivatives in the presence of bases (imidazole and tetrabutylammonium cation).
• Structural determination of BHT·4im and other disulfide-containing BHT molecules.

Main Results:

• Successfully obtained single crystals of intact BHT and elucidated its structure via X-ray analysis.
• Synthesized and determined the structures of BHT derivatives featuring intermolecular disulfide bonds (e.g., BHT·4im).
• Demonstrated a method to overcome BHT's instability for structural studies.

Conclusions:

• The crystal structure of intact BHT has been determined for the first time.
• Novel BHT derivatives with disulfide linkages have been synthesized and characterized.
• This work provides a foundation for the controlled synthesis and application of BHT-based materials.