Dithiolene transfer to the molybdenum nitrosyl complex [CpMo(CO)2(NO)]: Formation of bimetallic complexes

The reaction of the nitrosyl complex [CpMo(CO)2(NO)] (Cp = η-C5H5) with the nickel dithiolene complex [Ni(S2C2Ph2)2] produces the expected dimolybdenum complex [Mo2(NO)2(μ-S2C2Ph2)2Cp2], but only as a minor product (13% yield). The major product (41%) consists of two separable isomers of the tetranuclear complex [Mo2Ni2(NO)2(μ-S2C2Ph2)4Cp2], which comprises two CpMo(NO)Ni(S2C2Ph2)2units joined through bridging sulfur atoms. The isomers differ in the orientation of one dimeric unit in relation to the other. All three compounds have been structurally characterised.