Thermochemistry of Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes with N,N-di-n-butyl-N′-thenoylthiourea and N,N-di-iso-butyl-N′-thenoylthiourea

Two substituted N-acylthioureas and the respective Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes were synthesized, namely: N,N-di-n-butyl-N′-thenoylthiourea (Hnbtu); N,N-di-iso-butyl-N′-thenoylthiourea (Hibtu); bis[N,N-di-n-butyl-N′-thenoylthioureato]nickel(II), [Ni(nbtu)2]; bis[N,N-di-n-butyl-N′-thenoylthioureato]copper(II), [Cu(nbtu)2]; bis[N,N-di-iso-butyl-N′-thenoylthioureato]nickel(II), [Ni(ibtu)2]; bis[N,N-di-iso-butyl-N′-thenoylthioureato]copper(II), [Cu(ibtu)2]. The standard (p∘ = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation and sublimation of the two N-acylthioureas were measured, at T = 298.15 K, by rotating-bomb combustion calorimetry and Calvet microcalorimetry, respectively. The standard (p∘ = 0.1 MPa) molar enthalpies of formation of the Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes were determined, at T = 298.15 K, by high precision solution–reaction calorimetry. From the results obtained, the enthalpies of hypothetical metal–ligand and metal–metal exchange reactions, in the gaseous phase, were derived, thus allowing a discussion of the gaseous phase energetic difference between the complexation of Ni(II) and Cu(II) to 1,3-ligand systems with (S,O) ligator atoms.