This paper reports on the synthesis, spectral and X-ray crystal
structure of a new sulfur bridged hexanuclear copper(I) complex
[Cu6(eptu)6] (2) and a mononuclear Co(III) complex [Co(eptu)3]
with 1-ethyl-3-phenyl thiourea. The thiourea ligand acts as a
reducing agent to convert Cu(II) to Cu(I) with the concomitant formation
of the disulfide ligand EtNHPhNCSSCNPhNHEt. Complex 2
consists of two identical units, each containing three interacting
Cu(I) ions linked in such a way as to provide a paddle-wheel like
hexanuclear cage structure in which each sulfur atom is bridged
between two Cu(I) centers. In the structure of complex 2, four copper(
I) ions are tetrahedrally bonded by two sulfur, one nitrogen
and one Cu3 ion, whereas each of two Cu3 centers is bridged
between Cu1 and Cu2 centers and also bonded to two sulfur and
one nitrogen atom in a trigonal bipyramidal geometry. The ligand
acts as uninegative tridentate in [Cu6(eptu)6] (2) and chelating uninegative
bidentate in [Co(eptu)3] (3). The crystal structures of the
ligand and the complexes are stabilized by inter/intramolecular
hydrogen bonding, providing the paddle-wheel like hexanuclear
structure for complex 2 and a supramolecular framework for the
ligand and complex 3.