(NH4)2[Re2S16], a Soluble Metal Sulfide with Interesting Electronic Properties and Unusual Reactivity

Abstract

A strong transannular ReRe interaction and reactive metal–sulfur bonds characterize the title anion 1 (shown on the right without the two chelating S4-ligands). This surprising result explained by the existence of molecular orbitials arising from Re 5d and S 3p functions of similar energy are not only Re–Re bonding but also markedly delocalized. These findings underline the importance of the role of the metal center, especially in catalytically active metal sulfides.