Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of new copper(II) complexes of 2-methylthio-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide.

Copper(II) complexes were prepared with the new N(2)S(thioether) ligand 2-methylthio-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)acetamide (2-HL(N2S)). [Cu(2-L(N2S))Cl(MeOH)], which formed in the presence of excess triethylamine, is a distorted square pyramidal complex containing the ligand with the amide nitrogen deprotonated. The structurally analogous complex, [Cu(2-HL(N2S))Cl(2)], which formed in the absence of triethylamine, contains 2-HL(N2S) in the tautomeric imidic acid form. Neutral copper(II) N(2)S(thioether)S(thiolate) species were generated by addition of alkyl or aromatic thiolates to [Cu(2-L(N2S))Cl(MeOH)] and an unusual decomposition pathway was discovered.