The molybdenum compounds 1 , and 2 , have similar core structures, as shown The molybde...

The molybdenum compounds 1 , and 2 , have similar core structures, as shown The molybdenum–molybdenum distance in 2 (214.0 pm) is slightly greater than the comparable distance in 1 (210.7 pm). Suggest an explanation for this difference. Hydrogens and the toluene rings are omitted to show the bonding to the Mo more clearly. (F. A. Cotton, L. M. Daniels, I. Guimet, R. W. Henning, G. T. Jordan IV, C. Lin, C. A. Murillo, A. J. Schultz, J. Am. Chem. Soc. ,1998 , 120 , 12531.)