New Synthesis, Properties, and the Formation of the Hexamer of Nickel(II) Ethanethiolate, [Ni(SEt)2]6

Abstract [Ni3(SEt)8]2− reacted with water in acetone to give the known hexameric ring compound, [Ni(SEt)2]6, where SEt means CH3CH2S−. The [Ni(SEt)2]6 was oxidized electrochemically in a quasi-reversible manner at +0.60 V (vs. SCE) in CH2Cl2. 1H and 13C NMR revealed that this compound has two types of –SEt (low- and high- field types; the chemical shift discrepancy is ca. 0.4 ppm for 1H NMR), probably corresponding to the axial–equatorial configurations of the thiolate. The formation of the cyclic hexamer in CH3CN and CHCl3 in the presence of protic reagents was studied.