Intramolecular formation and cleavage of C–S/N bonds promoted by iron-sulfur coordination chemistry

The reaction of a tetradentate ligand, 2,2′-(pyridin-2-ylmethylazanediyl)diethanethiol (H2L), with dodecacarbonyltriiron in dry toluene leads to the formations of a hexacarbonyl complex, [Fe2(EDT)(CO)6] (EDT = ethylenedithiolate), 1a, which is fully characterised. The formation of this complex is via intramolecular C–S/N bonds formation/cleavage promoted by iron-sulfur coordination chemistry. A possible mechanism for the C–S/N bonds formation/cleavage in the formation of the complex is proposed.