Molecular paving with zinc thiolates

The structure of Zn(S(2)COnPr)(2) features [ - Zn - S - C - S -](4) 16- membered rings that share two corners with adjacent rings leading to the formation of a chain. This contrasts the situation in closely related Zn(S(2)COiPr)(2), which displays isolated 16- membered rings, and in Zn(S2COEt)(2), which adopts a layer structure owing to all corners of the 16- membered rings being shared. If the isolated 16- membered ring is considered as a paving stone, a description of the Zn(S2COR)(2) structures ensues where the pavers in R = iPr are connected into a chain for R = nPr and finally into a 2- D architecture ( e. g. path) for R = Et, demonstrating steric control over molecular aggregation.