Xanthates Dithiocarbonic Acid O-monoesters

The anionic species ROCS2 resulted from O-alkyl(aryl) esters of the hypothetical dithiocarbonic acids, ROC(S)SH, better known as xanthates, are versatile ligands and they generate an extensive coordination chemistry. The interest for metal xanthates is stimulated by their potential use as single source precursors for nanoscopic metal sulfides in photochemical or thermal vapor deposition systems under mild conditions,218 221 e.g. for Zn,222 Cd,223 In,224 

Nickel(III) xanthates, Ni(S2COR)3, with R = Me, Et, Pr, z-Pr, Bu, z-Bu, sec-Bu, can be quantitatively generated in acetonitrile solution by electrooxidation of anionic [Ni(S2COR)3] or by oxidative addition of ethyldixanthogen, [EtOC(S)S]2 to Ni(S2COEt)2. Solutions of Ni(S2COR)3 readily disproportionate into Ni(S2COEt)2 and [EtOC(S)S]2.240 

The lability of the xanthato moiety may sometimes result in unpredictable dealkylation. Thus, in attempted preparation of palladium(II) and platinum(II) 

The great structural diversity of coordination patterns and supramolecular self-assembly has been analyzed in detail for nickel(II), zinc(II), mercury(II), and tellurium (II),246fe(xanthato) complexes. 

Further selected examples of interesting xanthates are presented below. 

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