Preparation of metal–sulphur–nitrogen complexes via photochemical activation of S4N4

Reaction of cis-[PtCl2(PMe2Ph)2] with S4N4, which normally only occurs at temperatures in excess of 100-degree-C, can be achieved at 0-degree-by the use of UV photolysis. Phosphorus-31 NMR studies upon reactions using S4N4-S4N-15(4) show the products to contain totally scrambled N-14/N-15 suggesting that the reaction proceeds via a reactive sulphur-nitrogen species photochemically generated from S4N4. Photolysis of S4N4 alone gives a mixture of S8, S4N2 and S7NH.