Synthesis and crystal structure of bis-(μ-2-methyl-benzene-thiol-ato-κ2S:S)bis-[meth-yl(2-methyl-benzene-thiol-ato-κS)indium(III)].

The dinuclear title compound, [In2(CH3)2(C7H7S)4] or [Me(2-MeC6H4S)In-μ-(2-MeC6H4S)2InMe(2-MeC6H4S)], was prepared from the 1:2 reaction of Me3In and 2-MeC6H4SH in toluene. Its crystal structure exhibits a four-membered In2S2 ring core via bridging (2-MeC6H4S) groups. The dimeric units are further associated into a one-dimensional polymeric structure extending parallel to the a axis via inter-molecular In⋯S contacts. The In atoms are then in distorted trigonal-bipyramidal CS4 bonding environments.