Effect of Metal Coordination Environment on the Stability of Zinc Complexes and Their Reactivity with NaSH

Abstract

Metal complexes with multidentate ligands are frequently used as model compounds to shed light on the (bio)‐inorganic chemistry of H2S. Zinc complexes bearing salen‐type ONNO ligands with different bridging groups are particularly relevant in this respect. Here, we describe the use of zinc complexes with the sulfur‐analogues of the ONNO ligands with the S‐donors replacing either the neutral nitrogen donors or the anionic oxygen atoms of the classical salen ligands. In addition, we studied a hexadentate cyclic ligand, with four neutral sulfur atoms and two anionic oxygens. Having two coordinative pockets this ligand is able to form a bimetallic zinc complex. We report how the different coordinative environments of the explored ligands influence the stability of the zinc complexes and their abilities to form the related hydrosulfide species.