Tetrakis(μ-triisopropylsilanethiolato)-1:2κ⁴S:S;2:3κ⁴S:S-bis(triisopropylsilanethiolato)-1κS,3κS-trizinc(II)

The title compound, [Zn₃(C₉H₂₁SiS)₆] or [(ⁱPr₃SiS)Zn(μ-SSiⁱPr₃)₂Zn(μ-SSiⁱPr₃)₂Zn(SSiⁱPr₃)], is the first structurally characterized homoleptic silanethiolate complex of zinc. A near-linear arrangement of three Zn^II ions is observed, the metals at the ends being three-coordinate with one terminally bound silanethiolate ligand. The central Zn^II ion is four-coordinate and tetrahedral, with two bridging silanethiolate ligands joining it to each of the two peripheral Zn^II ions. The nonbonding intermetallic distances are 3.1344 (11) and 3.2288 (12) Å, while the Zn...Zn...Zn angle is 172.34 (2)°. A trimetallic silanethiolate species of this type has not been previously identified by X-ray crystallography for any element.