Reactivity of a trans-[H-Mo[quadruple bond, length as m-dash]Mo-H] unit towards alkenes and alkynes: bimetallic migratory insertion, H-elimination and other reactions.

Complex [Mo2(H)2{μ-HC(NDipp)2}2(THF)2], (1·THF), reacts with C2H4 and PhCH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH2 to afford hydrido-hydrocarbyl and bis(hydrocarbyl) derivatives of the Mo[quadruple bond, length as m-dash]Mo bond. Reversible migratory insertion and β-hydrogen elimination, as well as reductive elimination and other reactions, have been uncovered. PhC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CH behaves instead as a Brönsted-Lowry acid towards the strongly basic Mo-H bonds of 1·THF.