Synthesis of a “Masked” Terminal Zinc Sulfide and Its Reactivity with Brønsted and Lewis Acids

Abstract

The “masked” terminal Zn sulfide, [K(2.2.2‐cryptand)][MeLZn(S)] (2) (MeL={(2,6‐iPr2C6H3)NC(Me)}2CH), was isolated via reaction of [MeLZnSCPh3] (1) with 2.3 equivalents of KC8 in THF, in the presence of 2.2.2‐cryptand, at −78 °C. Complex 2 reacts readily with PhCCH and N2O to form [K(2.2.2‐cryptand)][MeLZn(SH)(CCPh)] (4) and [K(2.2.2‐cryptand)][MeLZn(SNNO)] (5), respectively, displaying both Brønsted and Lewis basicity. In addition, the electronic structure of 2 was examined computationally and compared with the previously reported Ni congener, [K(2.2.2‐cryptand)][tBuLNi(S)] (tBuL={(2,6‐iPr2C6H3)NC(tBu)}2CH).