Dinuclear oxidative addition of N-H and S-H bonds at chromium. Reaction of (*)Cr(CO)(3)(C(5)Me(5)) with [o-(HA)C(6)H(4)S-Cr(CO)(3)(C(5)Me(5))] (A = S,NH) yielding [eta(2)-o-(mu-A)C(6)H(4)S-Cr(C(5)Me(5))](2) and H-Cr(CO)(3)(C(5)Me(5))

Reaction of the 17-electron radical (*)Cr(CO)(3)Cp* (Cp* = C(5)Me(5)) with 0.5 equiv of 2-aminophenyl disulfide (o-H(2)NC(6)H(4))(2)S(2)] results in rapid oxidative addition to form the initial product (o-H(2)N)C(6)H(4)S-Cr(CO)(3)Cp*. Addition of a second equivalent of (*)Cr(CO)(3)Cp* to this solution results in the formation of H-Cr(CO)(3)Cp* as well as (1)/(2)eta(2)-o-(mu-NH)C(6)H(4)S]CrCp*](2). Spectroscopic data show that (o-H(2)N)C(6)H(4)S-Cr(CO)(3)Cp* loses CO to form eta(2)-(o-H(2)N)C(6)H(4)S]Cr(CO)(2)Cp*. Attack on the N-H bond of the coordinated amine by (*)Cr(CO)(3)Cp* provides a reasonable mechanism consistent with the observation that both chelate formation and oxidative addition of the N-H bond are faster under argon than under CO atmosphere. The N-H bonds of uncoordinated aniline do not react with (*)Cr(CO)(3)Cp*. Reaction of the 2 mol of (*)Cr(CO)(3)Cp* with 1,2-benzene dithiol 1,2-C(6)H(4)(SH)(2)] yields the initial product (o-HS)C(6)H(4)S-Cr(CO)(3)Cp and 1 mol of H-Cr(CO)(3)Cp*. Addition of 1 equiv more of (*)Cr(CO)(3)Cp to this solution also results in the formation of 1 equiv of H-Cr(CO)(3)Cp*, as well as the dimeric product (1)/(2)eta(2)-o-(mu-S)C(6)H(4)S]CrCp*](2). This reaction also occurs more rapidly under Ar than under CO, consistent with intramolecular coordination of the second thiol group prior to oxidative addition. The crystal structures of eta(2)-o-(mu-NH)C(6)H(4)S]CrCp*](2) and eta(2)-o-(mu-S)C(6)H(4)S]CrCp*](2) are reported.