The synthesis, reactivity, structures and electrochemistry of dimolybdenum complexes jointly stabilized by cyclopentadienyl and bridging thiolate ligands are reviewed. The complexes involved are principally those of molybdenum(II) and molybdenum(III) and they contain from one to four thiolate bridges. It is shown that their reactivity can be controlled by varying the electronic and steric properties of the ancillary ligands and that they provide bimetallic sites for the activation and transformation of various substrates. © 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.