A new bis(imidazolyl)(alkylthiolate) tripodal ligand and the spontaneous formation of a disulfide-linked, hydroxo-bridged dinuclear zinc complex.

The new sterically encumbered, tripodal N2S(alkylthiolate) ligand, LIm2SH, has been synthesized and used to prepare [(LIm2S)ZnCH3], which upon protonolysis under acidic conditions leads to the synthesis of a novel dinucleating ligand and a zinc dimer with an unusual structure.