Syntheses and structural characterization of a new class of double cubanes that contain MoFe3S4 subunits and molybdenum-coordinated, bridging mercapto-carboxylate ligands. Effective catalysts for the reduction of hydrazine to ammonia

Replacement of Mo-bound ligands from the ((Cl4-cat)(CH3CN)MoFe3S4Cl3) by mercapto-carboxylic acids produces a new structural type of double cubanes. X-ray diffraction study helps examine the structure of a double cubane and the new cluster catalyzes the reduction of hydrazine. In these double cubanes two thiolate sulfur connects two MO atoms through mercapto-carboxylate anions serving as mu-eta(1)-eta(1) ligands.