The nickel(II) complex of an N2S2 ligand, derived from a diazacycle, N,N'-bis(mercaptoethyl)-1,5-diazacycloheptane, (bme-dach)Ni, Ni-1', serves as a metallodithiolate ligand to Ni-II, Cu-I, Zn-II, Ag-I, and Pb-II. The binding ability of the NiN2S2 ligand to the metal ions was established through spectrochemical titrations in aqueous media and compared to classical S-donor ligands. For M = Ni, Zn, Pb, binding constants, log K = ca. 2, were computed for 1:1 Ni-1'/M(solvate) adducts; for Ag+ and Cu+, the 3:2 (Ni-1')(3)M-2 adducts were the first formed products even in water with log beta(3,2) values of 26 and >30, respectively. In all cases, the binding ability of Ni-S-R is intermediate between that of a free thiolate and a free thioether. The great specificity for copper over nickel and zinc by N2S2Ni, which serves as a reasonable structural model for the distal nickel of the acetyl CoA synthase active site, relates to biochemical studies of heterogeneity (metal content and type) in various preparations of acetyl CoA synthase enzyme.