The S-S bond of the double cluster core Fe-S complexes [(m-RS)Fe2(CO)]2(m-S-S-m) (I; R = Ph, p-MeC6H4, Et, cyclopentyl, PhCH2O) which are prepared by the oxidative coupling reaction of (m-RS)(m-XMgS)Fe2(CO)6 (II; X = Cl, Br) and SO2Cl2, can be reductively cleaved by Grignard reagents, producing an equimolar II and (m-RS)2Fe2(CO)6 or (m-RS)(m-R'S)Fe2(CO)6 (R' = Me, Ph, PhCH2). A mechanism for the oxidative coupling was tentatively proposed and a comparison between the reactivity of S-S bond for I and m-S2Fe2(CO)6 was studied.

Key words: IRON COMPLEX, OXIDATION REDUCTION REACTION, CLUSTER COMPOUND, SULFUR COMPOUNDS, REACTION PROPERTIES, DINUCLEAR COMPLEX, COUPLING REACTION, GRIGNARD REAGENT, CLEAVAGE REACTION