Push–Pull Molybdenum Trisdithiolenes Allow Rapid Nonconventional Binding of Ethylene at Ligand Sulfur Atoms

Adding to the mix: Mixed dithiolene complexes of molybdenum, such as [Mo{S2C2(CF3)2}2{S2(C6H4)}], bind ethylene rapidly, in a nonconventional fashion, at the sulfur atoms (see scheme). In the presence of additional donor ligands, substitution of the metal-bound 2,3-dihydro-1,4-dithiin occurs, providing a new approach to mixed-ligand molybdenum bis- and trisdithiolenes.