First tetrathiolate-bridged dinuclear molybdacarbaboranes: scission and formation of the C–C cluster bond during oxidation processes

Unprecedented tetrathiolate-bridged dinuclear ionic molybdacarbaboranes [(C 2 B 9 H 11 )Mo(SPh) 2 ] 2 n- (n = 2, 1) are prepared by successive oxidation of [(C 2 B 9 H 11 )Mo II - (CO) 2 (SPh) 2 ] 2- with diphenyl disulfide and iodosylbenzene: X-ray crystal structure determinations and NMR studies show unusual scission and reformation of the C–C carbaborane cage bond.