Utilization of CS2 as a Source of C1 Chemistry for the Generation of Methyldithioformate

Insertion of CS2 into the Ru-H bond of cis-[(dppe)2Ru(H)2] takes place to afford the hydride dithioformate complex trans-[(dppe)2Ru (H)(SC(S)H)]. The hydride dithioformate complex reacts under very mild conditions with MeX (X = OTf, I) to give the hydride methyldithioformate derivative trans-[(dppe)2Ru(H)(SC(SMe)H)][X]. Three different pathways have been found to cleave off the ester moiety from the metal complex. A method to recover the ruthenium starting material upon elimination of the methyldithioformate is presented. This is a novel case of C1 chemistry using carbon disulfide.