Machanism of cobalt dithiolene complex catalysis of thiol autoxidation in acidic acetonitrile solution
Abstract
The efficient catalysis by [Co(mnt)2]22–(mnt maleonitriledithiolate) of the reaction 2PhCH2SH + O2→ PhCH2SSCH2Ph + H2O2 in acetonitrile, acid-buffered with excess of PhMe2N/PhMe2NH+ClO4–, is described; the mechanism involves sequential co-ordinative activation of thiol and oxygen, the reactive intermediate being PhMe2NH––O2–[Co(mnt)2]2–SCH2Ph2–.