A Cu(ii) mediated new desulfurization pathway involving elimination of ethylene sulfide

Abstract

Reaction of thiodiacetate anion (tda) with [Cu(TMEDA)(NO₃)₂] (TMEDA = N,N,N′N′-tetramethyl ethylene-diamine) in a stoichiometric ratio afforded the complex {[Cu(TMEDA)(tda)]·(H₂TMEDA)(NO₃)₂·H₂O} (1). When [Cu(TMEDA)(NO₃)₂] was added in excess, it yielded a μ-oxalato complex {[Cu₂(TMEDA)₂(μ-ox)(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂·2CH₃CN} (2). The reaction involves a facile room temperature desulfurization of the thiodiacetate moiety via elimination of ethylene sulfide (thiirane).