A metal-mediated dimerization of the ligand bis(N,N-diethylamino)carbeniumdithiocarboxylate.

The title compound, methylene bis[bis(N,N-diethylamino)carbeniumdithiocarboxylate] pentachlorooxorhenium, (C(21)H(42)N(4)S(4))[ReCl(5)O], is the result of an unusual dimerization of the ligand bis(N,N-diethylamino)carbeniumdithiocarboxylate [(Et(2)N)(2)C(2)S(2)] upon reaction with [ReOCl(3)(PPh(3))(2)] in chloroform under reflux conditions. The compound was obtained as a dicationic moiety, with the molecular [ReOCl(5)](2-) anion providing the charge compensation. The planes of the carbenium and thiocarboxylate moieties are nearly perpendicular to one another and the backbone C-C bond length in the N(2)CCS(2) group is the same as a normal C-C single-bond length.