A Bis-Carbyne (Ethanediylidyne) Complex via the Catalytic Demercuration of a Mercury Bis(carbido) Complex

Successive treatment of [Mo( CBr)(CO)(2){HB(pzMe(2))(3)}] (pz = pyrazol-l-yl) BuLi and mercuric chloride provides the bis(carbido)mercurial complex Hg[C Mo(CO)(2){HB(pzMe(2))(3)}](2), which is catalytically demercurated by [RhCl(CO)(PPh3)(2)] to provide the bis-carbyne (ethanediylidyne) compound (mu-C-2)[Mo(CO)(2){HB(pzMe(2))(3)}](2).