Metal-Sulphur Stretching Frequencies and Structures of Complexes of Zinc, Cadmium, and Mercury with Thiols

Assignments of vas(SMS) and vsym(SMS) for the complexes M(SR)2 (M = Zn, Cd, Hg; R = Et, But) and Hg(SMe)2 from infrared and Raman spectroscopy are reported. Comparison of frequencies for the complex Hg(SBut)2 containing four-coordinate mercury with those of Hg(SR)2 (R = Me, Et) containing two-coordinate mercury permits assignment of a polymeric structure with linear coordination for the 1:I complex of Hg(II) with the antidote for mercury poisoning 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (British anti-Lewisite).