MOLYBDENUM COBALT SULFUR CLUSTERS - MODELS AND PRECURSORS FOR HYDRODESULFURIZATION (HDS) CATALYSTS

Sulfido dusters which incorporate molybdenum and a late transition metal, e.g. iron, cobalt or nickel, are readily prepared by the reactions of Cp2Mo2S4, Cp2Mo2S2(SR)2 or Cp2Mo2(CO)2(SR)2 with Fe2(CO)9, Co2(CO)8, Ni(CO)4, Cp2Ni, etc. The homogeneous reactions of the cluster Cp2Mo2Co2S3(CO)4 with thiols, thiophene, and phosphines are reviewed, as are some reactions of the clusters with metal oxide surfaces to produce heterogeneous catalysts for CO hydrogenation or hydrodesulfurization.