Carbon–sulfur bond cleavage of benzothiophene by Cp∗Co(C2H4)2

•Carbon–sulfur bond cleavage is achieved in benzothiophene.•Assignment of NMR resonances of κ2-benzothiophene.•X-ray structure of a dinuclear C–S activation product.

Cp∗Co(C2H4)2 was reacted with benzothiophene and C–S activation of the vinyl-sulfur bond was observed. The resulting product, [Cp∗Co]2(μ-κ2-C,S-C8H6S) was characterized by 1H NMR, 13C{1H} NMR, 13C DEPT-135 NMR, and 1H–13C 2D HSQC spectroscopies. The broad Cp∗ methyl peaks in these spectra suggested a fluxional structure.

Graphical abstractThe reactive fragment [Cp∗CoI] reacts with benzothiophene to give a C–S inserted dinuclear product.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide