Reduction induced S-nucleophilicity in mono-dithiolene molybdenum complexes - in situ generation of sulfonium ligands.

The reduction of a molybdenum monodithiolene complex, [Mo(CO)2(dt)(dppe)], in the presence of dichloromethane leads to the transfer of CH2 to sulfur and respective sulfonium species. Detailed analytical and mechanistical spectroscopic and electrochemical studies reveal the reasons for the unexpected formation and composition of the very unusual resultant complexes to be electronic-energetic in nature.