Variable transformations of di[4-(pyridin-2-yl)pyrimidinyl]disulfide induced by different metal salts

Assembly of three different metal salts with 2-ppds (2-ppds = di[4-(pyridin-2-yl)pyrimidinyl]disulfide) under the same conditions produced three totally distinct coordination compounds. In the presence of Cu(NO3)(2), a dinuclear Cu(I) macrocyclic compound [Cu-2(2-ppts)(2)](NO3)(2) (1) together with a mononuclear Cu(II) compound [Cu(2-pps)](NO3)(2) (2) are formed, of which the initial 2-ppds ligand is in situ converted into its trisulfide 2-ppts (2-ppts = di[4-(pyridin-2-yl)pyrimidinyl]trisulfide) and monosulfide 2-pps (2-PPs = di[4-(pyridin-2-yl)pyrimidinyl]sulfide), respectively. Replacement of Cu(NO3)(2) by Zn(NO3)(2) affords a mononuclear Zn(II) coordination compound [Zn(2-pps)(NO3)(2)] (3). The use of HgCl2 results in a dinuclear Hg(II) compound [Hg4Cl8(2-ppds)(2)] (4) without any change on 2-ppds. All coordination compounds have been structurally ascertained by X-ray crystallography. Besides, ESI-MS examination of the mother solution for each compound has also been carried out to further understand the impacts of different metal salts. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.