Dithiolene metal complexes are complexes containing 1,2-dithiolene ligands. 1,2-Dithiolene ligands, a particular case of 1,2-dichalcogenolene species along with 1,2-diselenolene[1] derivatives,[2] are unsaturatedbidentateligand wherein the two donor atoms are sulfur. 1,2-Dithiolene metal complexes are often referred to as "metal dithiolenes", "metallodithiolenes" or "dithiolene complexes".[3] Most molybdenum- and tungsten-containing proteins have dithiolene-like moieties at their active sites, which feature the so-called molybdopterin cofactor bound to the Mo or W.[4]
Dithiolene metal complexes have been studied since the 1960s when they were first popularized by Gerhard N. Schrauzer and Volker P. Mayweg, who prepared nickel bis(stilbene-1,2-dithiolate) (Ni(S2C2Ph2)2) by the reaction of nickel sulfide and diphenylacetylene.[5] The structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical properties of many related complexes have been described.
^Karlin KD, Stiefel EI, eds. (2003). Progress in Inorganic Chemistry, Dithiolene Chemistry: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications. New York: Wiley-Interscience. ISBN978-0-471-37829-7.