Carbon disulfide binding at dinuclear and mononuclear nickel complexes ligated by a redox-active ligand: iminopyridine serving as an accumulator of redox equivalents for the activation of heteroallenes.

The dinuclear complex Ni(2)L(1)(η(2)-CS(2))(2) (2), featuring iminopyridine ligation, is prepared by COD substitution from Ni(2)L(1)(COD)(2) (1). Spectroscopic, structural, and theoretical data reveals significant activation of the metal-bound C-S bonds, as well as the different oxidation states of the iminopyridine in (1-) and (0).