Insertion of iron carbonyl into a CS bond of tetrathiofulvalene

Abstract Irradiation of a mixture of tetrathiofulvalene (TTF) and iron pentacarbonyl in THF gives a dinuclear hexacarbonyl iron chelate, Fe2(CO)6[μ-SC( CSCHCHS )SCHCH] (1), by ring-opening of TTF adjacent to an internal double bond. The donated ligand electrons originate from an sp2 carbon atom, a sulphur atom, and a carbon—carbon double bond.