Synthesis and crystal structure of a square planar tetra-cobalt complex with two quadruply-bridging sulphur atoms [(η5-Cp)4Co4(µ4-S)2]

The cluster compound [(η5-Cp)4CO4(η4-S)2] was isolated from the reaction between [(η5-Cp)Co(PR3)2] and Li2S at 60 ·C; the tetramer is capped by two quadruply-bridging sulphur atoms above and below the Co4 square plane to form a distorted octahedral core Co4S2 as shown by X-ray single crystal structural analysis.