Reactions of co-ordinated ligands. Part VII. Reactions of co-ordinated thiol esters and thiolate anions

Abstract

The methanolysis of several thiol esters has been found to be promoted by transition metal ions, notably Cu²⁺. The interaction in solution between the thiol esters and metal ions has been studied by observation of contact shifts in the ¹H n.m.r. spectrum, and by the method of continuous variations. The interaction, which is thought to involve the sulphur atom of the thiol ester group rather than the carbonyl oxygen atom, was found to be greater for copper(II) than for nickel(II) ions. A number of solid copper(II) complexes of β-amino-thiol esters with a metal : thiol ester ratio of 1 : 1 have been prepared and characterised.

The reaction between acid chlorides and the nickel(II) chelates of β-amino-thiols has been found to be a convenient method for the preparation of β-amino-thiols esters.