X-Ray structural characterization of a thiolate salt displaying a very strong S–H ⋯ S hydrogen bond

Abstract

In attempting to prepare [PPh₄][SCH₂CH₂SH]1 from Na[SCH₂CH₂CH₂SH]2 and [PPh₄]Cl, the derived salt [PPh₄][SCH₂CH₂SCH₂CH₂SH]3 is produced in high yield, by a mechanism which is shown to involve the nucleophilic displacement of HS^– from the anion of 1; the X-ray structure of 3 shows that pairs of the anions are coupled by very strong, almost linear S–H ⋯ S hydrogen bonds, with an S ⋯ S distance of 3.454(2)Å.