  The properties of Mo_6S_6 nanowires were investigated with ab-initio
calculations based on the density-functional theory. The molecules build weakly
coupled one-dimensional chains, like Mo_6Se_6 and Mo_6S_(9-x)I_x, and the
crystals are strongly uniaxial in their mechanical and electronic properties.
The calculated moduli of elasticity and resilience along the chain axis are
c_(11) = 320 GPa and E_R = 0.53 GPa, respectively. The electronic band
structure and optical conductivity indicate that the Mo_6S_6 crystals are good
quasi-one-dimensional conductors. The frequency-dependent complex dielectric
tensor epsilon, calculated in the random-phase approximation, shows a strong
Drude peak in epsilon_parallel, i.e., for the electric field polarised parallel
to the chain axis, and several peaks related to interband transitions. The
electron energy loss spectrum is weakly anisotropic and has a strong peak at
the plasma frequency (hbar omega_p) is approx 20 eV. The stability analysis
shows that Mo_6S_6 is metastable against the formation of the layered MoS_2.
