Crystal and electronic structure of a hexacarbonyldiiron cluster tethered to naphthalene‐2‐thiolate ligands

The structure of the previously reported complex bis(μ‐naphthalene‐2‐thiolato‐κ²S:S)bis(tricarbonyliron)(Fe—Fe), Fe₂(C₁₀H₇S)₂(CO)₆], has been characterized by X‐ray diffraction. In the solid state, the dinuclear complex adopts a butterfly‐like shape, with an equatorial–axial spatial orientation of the naphthalene groups covalently coupled to the S₂Fe₂(CO)₆] unit. The asymmetric unit contains three independent (μ‐naphthalene‐2‐thiolato)₂Fe₂(CO)₆] molecules. These molecules show intermolecular π–π stacking interactions between the naphthalene rings, which was confirmed by Hirshfield surface analysis. The electronic spectrum of the complex recorded in acetonitrile shows a band centered at 350 nm (? = 4.6 × 10³ M^?1 cm^?1) and tailing into the visible region. This absorption can be attributed to a π→π* electronic transition within the naphthalene moiety and a metal‐based d→d transition.