Synthesis and sulfur oxygenation of a (N3S)Ni complex related to nickel-containing superoxide dismutase.

A nickel(II) thiolate complex incorporating three N-donor types (amino, amido, and imidazole) has been synthesized and characterized. The (N(3)S)Ni complex, [N-{2-[(2-mercapto-2-methylpropyl)amino]ethyl}-1-methylimidazole-2-carboxamido]nickel(II) (1), is stable in the presence of O(2) but readily forms the sulfinato (RSO(2)(-)) derivative 2 upon the addition of H(2)O(2). Electrochemical investigations of 1 reveal an irreversible sulfur-based oxidation at +0.17 V vs Fc(+)/Fc (200 mV/s) that shifts to +0.81 V upon oxidation to 2. Density functional theory investigations of 1 reveal a highest occupied molecular orbital that is predominantly sulfur-based, consistent with the observed sulfur-based oxidation and O(2) stability.