Chemical and Materials Sciences: Research Findings Vol. 4

Two new thioates of copper with formula L_(-2H)S₂Cu (where L_(-2H) = 1,10-phen - 2H or 2,2'-bipy - 2H) have been synthesised by electrolysing the heterogeneous solution of sulphur and an organic compound. The process proceeds by in-situ insertion of sulphur into the organic compound (1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2'-bipyridyl), followed by preparation of the complex in a single step. Tetrabutylammonium chloride has been used as a supporting electrolyte and acetonitrile as a solvent in these systems. The resulting solution was electrolysed at a sacrificial copper anode and an inert platinum cathode by passing a current of 6 mA. The products were identified with elemental analysis data, UV-Visible spectroscopy, FT-IR spectra and mass spectral data. The present work represents a single-step, direct route for the synthesis of copper(II) thiolates.