Reaction of H2S with MoRu(CO)(6)(dppm)(2) to give H-2 and a bridged-sulfide product via hydrido-sulfhydryl intermediates (dppm = Ph2PCH2PPh2)

Oxidative addition of H2S to MoRu(CO)(6)(mu-dppm)(2) (1) at similar to 20 degrees C in toluene yields an isolable complex formulated as Mo(CO)(3)(mu-SH)(mu-CO)(mu-dppm)(2)RuH(CO) (2) via the possible intermediate Mo(CO)(3)(mu-H)(mu-CO)(mu-dppm)(2)Ru(SH)(CO) (4) (dppm = Ph2PCH2PPh2) that is detectable at lower temperatures. Over 2 days, species 2 in toluene loses H-2 (and CO) to yield the bridged-sulfide product, Mo(CO)(2)(mu-CO)(mu-S)(mu-dppm)(2)Ru(CO) (5) that is also formed directly from the reaction of 1 with elemental sulfur. The solid-state molecular structure of 5 is determined by X-ray crystallography. A further hydrido-sulfhydryl species, possibly Mo(CO)(3)(mu-SH)(mu-H)(mu-dppm)(2)Ru(CO)(2) (3), is in equilibrium with 2 at ambient temperature.