Oxidation of 2-mercaptopyridine N-oxide upon iodine agent: structural and FT-IR studies on charge-assisted hydrogen bonds CAHB(+) and I…I halogen interactions in 2,2′-dithiobis(pyridine N-oxide) ionic cocrystal

Abstract

2-Mercaptopyridine N-oxide (I) undergoes spontaneous dimerization to the disulfide form due to reaction with iodine acting as an oxidizing reagent. As a result, a di-N-oxide disulfide derivative of pyridine is obtained. During the process of crystallization, one of N-oxide groups undergoes protonation and a cation form of disulfide moiety cocrystallizes with I3 − counterion forming a salt structure. Therefore, in the crystalline state, the 2,2′-dithiobis(pyridine N-oxide) molecule exists in a not observed previously form of monocation. Interestingly, the protonated N-oxide group does not form hydrogen-bonded salt bridges (of the CAHB(±) type with I3 − anions) but prefers to be involved in intermolecular interactions with the unprotonated N-oxide group of the adjacent molecule This results in formation of intermolecular CAHB(+) hydrogen bridges finally linking molecules into infinite chains. The crystal structure is also stabilized by other various noncovalent interactions, including iodine...iodine and sulfur...iodine contacts.