Structure of [Ni(dippe)(μ-S)]2 and its reaction products. The nucleophilicity of the Ni2S2 fragment

The dimer [(dippe)Ni(μ-S)]2 reacts with organic electrophiles to give the alkylated species [(dippe)2Ni2(μ-S)(μ-SR)]+. Stronger alkylating agents lead to double alkylation and cleavage of the dimer. Protonation similarly occurs with strong acids. The structures of several of these species have been determined.