Synthetic Motifs for Understanding Lewis Acid Interactions with Persulfides and Thioselenides.

ABSTRACT: Persulfides (RSS^-) and thioselenides (RSSe^-) play important roles in biological S and Se transfer reactions, and their interactions with Lewis acidic moieties exert control over reactivity. Here, we report the synthesis and reactivity of mononuclear Zn²⁺ persulfide and thioselenide complexes from a unified synthetic strategy of using isolable dichalcogenide precursors. Highlighting the benefits of replacing S with Se, we use ⁷⁷Se NMR spectroscopy to reveal the effects of Lewis acid coordination (K⁺, Na⁺, Zn²⁺) on the electronic environment of the terminal Se of the thioselenide (R-S_β-Se_α ^-). Coordination of RSSe^- to Zn²⁺ polarizes the Se─S bond, rendering the

SUBMITTER: Li K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12811648 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature