Structure of a dinickel(II)-dithiolate bridged macrocyclic complex synthesised via a novel solvent-assisted disulfide cleavage reaction

The reaction of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenyl disulfide with [Ni(tn)3]Cl2 (tn = 1,3-diaminopropane), in methanol and the presence NaBPh4 resulted isolation [Ni2(L1)](DMF)2(BPh4)2 (I), (L1 15,95-dimethyl-3,7,11,15-tetraaza-1,9(1,3)-dibenzenacyclohexadecaphane-2,7,10,15-tetraene-12,92-bis(thiolate). This represents a 2-electron solvent assisted reduction bond to form two thiolate ligands where is converted formaldehyde nickel centres remained + 2 oxidation state. crystal structure I showed nickel(II) atoms are bridged by thiolates binuclear Ni2S2 core inside macrocyclic framework. IR spectrum band at 1625 cm−1, assigned imine ν(C N) stretch ligand, bands 734, 706 tetraphenylborate counter ions. first example SS cleavage being used prepare dicompartmental complex.