N2S2Ni metallodithiolate complexes as ligands: structural and aqueous solution quantitative studies of the ability of metal ions to form M-S-Ni bridges to mercapto groups coordinated to nickel(II). implications for acetyl coenzyme A synthase.

The nickel(II) complex of an N2S2 ligand, derived from a diazacycle, N,N'-bis(mercaptoethyl)-1,5-diazacycloheptane, (bme-dach)Ni, Ni-1', serves as a metallodithiolate ligand to NiII, CuI, ZnII, Ag, and PbII. The binding ability of the NiN2S2 ligand to the metal ions was established through spectrochemical titrations in aqueous media and compared to classical S-donor ligands. For M = Ni, Zn, Pb, binding constants, log K = ca.