Cleavage of hydrazine N-N bonds by RuMo3S4 cubane-type clusters.

The mixed-metal cubane-type clusters [(Cp*Mo)3(mu3-S)4RuH2(PR3)][PF(6)] [Cp* = eta5-C5Me5; R = Ph (2), Cy (5)] were effective for the N-N bond cleavage of hydrazine and phenylhydrazine via a disproportionation reaction. The ammonia cluster [(C*Mo)3(mu3-S)4Ru(NH3)(PPh3)][PF6] (3) and/or the unprecedented double-cubane-type cluster with bridging nitrogenous ligands [{(Cp*Mo)3(mu3-S)4Ru}2(mu2-NH2)(mu2-NHNH2)][PF6]2 (4) were isolated from the reaction mixtures, and their structures were determined by X-ray diffraction studies.