Acetylenic bond reduction anchored on (CO)6Fe2(μ-Se2):: synthesis and characterization of [(CO)6Fe2{μ-SeC(H)=C(R)Se}] and [{(CO)6Fe2Se2}2{μ-C(H)-C(R)}] (R=3-Th, 2-Th; Th=C4H3S)

Thiopheneacelylene (RC=CH; R=3-Th, 2-Th; Th=C4H3S) adds across the Se-Se bond of (CO)(6)Fe-2(mu-Se-2) at room temperature in methanol solvent containing sodium acetate to yield the adduct (CO)(6)Fe-2{mu-SeC(H)=C(R)Se} (R = 3-Th (1); 2-Th (3)) and the double butterfly complex [{(CO)(6)Fe2Se2}(2){mu-C(H)-C(R)}] (R = 3-Th (2); 2-Th (4)). Compounds 1-4 were characterized by spectroscopic techniques (IR and H-1-,C-13- and Se-77-NMR) and their composition confirmed by elemental analysis. Structures of 2 and 4 were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.