Synthesis and Reactivity of a Bis(disulfide)-Bridged RuMo₃S₄ Double-Cubane Cluster:  A New Family of Nona- or Decanuclear Mixed-Metal Sulfide Clusters with Two RuMo₃S₄ Units

A bis(disulfide)-bridged RuMo3S4 double-cubane cluster [{(Cp*Mo)3(mu3-S)4Ru}(mu2-eta2:eta1-S2)]2[PF6]2 (2, Cp* = eta5-C5Me5) is readily available from cluster [(Cp*Mo)3(mu3-S)4RuH2(PPh3)][PF6] (1) and S8. The reactions of cluster 2 with [M(PPh3)4] (M = Pd, Pt) give rise to the formation of a new family of nona- or decanuclear mixed-metal sulfide clusters, [{(Cp*Mo)3(mu3-S)4Ru}2(mu3-S)2{Pd(S)(PPh3)}][PF6]2 (3), [{(Cp*Mo)3(mu3-S)4Ru}2(mu3-S)2{(Pd(PPh3))2(mu2-S)}][PF6]2 (4), and [{(Cp*Mo)3(mu3-S)4Ru}2(mu3-S)2{Pt(PPh3)2}][PF6]2 (5), with two RuMo3S4 cubane units, the structures of which have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies.