Super reduced Fe4S4 cluster of Balch's dithiolene series

A super reduced Fe4S4 cluster with a sulfur based radical, [NBu4]4[Fe3IIIFeII(μ3-S)4(mnt)36−(mnt)1−˙]4−˙, (1) (mnt, maleonitrile dithiolate) which evolves H2S gas on treatment with acid under ambient conditions has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The Fe–S distances in 1 are in the range 2.246–2.383 Å, in stark contrast to that of the known n = −2 member of the series based on the [Fe4(μ3-S)4(S2C2R2)4]n unit (R = CF3, Ph) with...