Chemistry of μ-dithiobis(tricarbonyliron), an inorganic mimic of organic disulfides: II. Nucleophilic SS bond cleavage by organolithium and organomagnesium reagents☆

Abstract Organolithium and Grignard reagents cleave the SS bond of (μ-S 2 Fe 2 CO 6 at −78°C to give intermediates of type (μ-RS)(μ-MS)Fe 2 (CO) 6 , (M = Li or MgX). These may be alkylated with organic halides to produce complexes of type (μ-RS)(μ-R′S)Fe 2 (CO) 6 and protonated to yield (μ-RS)(μ-HS)Fe 2 (CO) 6 .