Molecular paving with zinc thiolates

Abstract

The structure of Zn(S2COnPr)2 features [-Zn-S-C-S-]4 16-membered rings that share two corners with adjacent rings leading to the formation of a chain. This contrasts the situation in closely related Zn(S2COiPr)2, which displays isolated 16-membered rings, and in Zn(S2COEt)2, which adopts a layer structure owing to all corners of the 16-membered rings being shared. If the isolated 16-membered ring is considered as a paving stone, a description of the Zn(S2COR)2 structures ensues where the pavers in R = iPr are connected into a chain for R = nPr and finally into a 2-D architecture (e.g. path) for R = Et, demonstrating steric control over molecular aggregation. © 2002 The Royal Society of Chemistry.