2,4-Diferrocenyl-1,3-dithiadiphosphetane 2,4-disulfide; structure and reactions with catechols and [PtCl2(PR3)2](R = Et or Bun)

Reaction of ferrocene (or 1,1′-dimethylferrocene) with P4S10 yielded R′P(S)S2P(S)R′(R′= ferrocenyl)(or the analogous dimethylferrocene species). This compound reacted with catechols to form R′P(S)O2C2 ring systems and with [PtCl2(PR3)2](R = Et or Bun) to give [R′PS3Pt(PR3)2]. The new compounds have been characterised spectroscopically with illustrative examples having been fully studied by X-ray crystallography.