Synthesis, structure and mechanism of formation of chalcogen -stabilised mixed-metal clusters featuring acetylide bridging and acetylide coupling

Mild thermolysis of a toluene solution of [(η5-C5H5)Mo(CO)3(CCPh)] and [Fe3(CO)9(μ3-E)2] (E = S, Se) resulted in the formation of mixed-metal clusters, [(η5-C5H5)2Mo2Fe3(CO)8(μ3-E)2{μ5-CC(Ph)CC(Ph)}] (E = S, 1; Se, 2), [(η5-C5H5)2Mo2Fe4(CO)9(μ3-E)2(μ4-CCPh)2] (E = S, 3; Se, 4) and [(η5-C5H5)2Mo2Fe3(CO)7(μ3-E)2{μ5-CC(Ph)C(Ph)C}] (E = S 5; E = Se 6) which feature head-to-tail coupling of two acetylide groups, two acetylide groups which remain …