Synthesis and study of hexanuclear molybdenum clusters containing thiolate ligands.

Four hexanuclear molybdenum chloride cluster complexes containing terminal thiolate ligands have been synthesized and fully characterized. (Bu 4N) 2[Mo 6Cl 8(SEt) 6] was prepared by reacting Na 2[Mo 6Cl 8(OMe) 6] with an excess of ethanethiol in refluxing tetrahydrofuran. (PPN) 2[Mo 6Cl 8(SBu) 6], (Bu 4N) 2[Mo 6Cl 8(SBn) 6], and (Bu 4N) 2[Mo 6Cl 8(SNC 8H 6) 6] (C 8H 6NS (-) = 3-indolylthiolate) were subsequently prepared in the reaction of [Mo 6Cl 8(SEt) 6] (2-) with an excess of HSR (R = Bu, Bn or 3-indolyl).