Dithiolenes synthesis

Dithiolene synthesis according to (i) was the first entry to the class of tris-dithiolenes King reacted the dithiete (12) with Mo(CO)6 to obtain Mo(tfd)3. The reduction of the julolidinedithione by NaBH4 in THF MeOH, followed by acidification and reaction with aqueous NiClj, led to (9) in excellent yield. As is evident from the MO diagram of dithiolenes (see Section 16.5.3,7) and their established redox properties, method (iii) applies only to dithiolenes with strongly electron-donating substituents, which may stabilize the cationic intermediates. 

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