Regioselective nucleophilic additions to (η6-benzyl alcohol)tricarbonylchromium: isolation and X-ray crystal structure of the intermediate (η6-5-methylene-6-exo-t-butylcyclohexa-1,3-diene)tricarbonylchromium

Abstract

Treatment of (η⁶-benzyl alcohol)tricarbonylchromium with alkyl-lithium compounds (Bu^tLi; MeLi-tetramethylethylenediamine; BuⁿLi; PhLi) regioselectively generates the corresponding η⁶-5-methylene-6-exo-alkylcyclohexa-1,3-diene complexes which undergo proton catalysed isomerisations to give (η⁶-ortho-alkyltoluene)tricarbonylchromium complexes.