Chemoselectivity in σ bond activation by lanthanocene complexes from a DFT perspective: reactions of Cp2LnR (R = CH3, H, SiH3) with SiH4 and CH3–SiH3†‡
Abstract
The pathways for the σ bond metathesis reactions between Cp2LnCH3 and SiH4 to give either Cp2LnSiH3 and CH4 (CH3/SiH3 exchange) or Cp2LnH and H3C–SiH3 (Si–C coupling) have been studied using DFT(B3PW91) calculations. It is shown that the nature of the lanthanide atom has essentially no influence on the free enthalpy profile. All reactions that could occur between H3C–SiH3, formed from the reaction between the initial reagents (Cp2LnCH3 and SiH4), and the lanthanocene complexes (Cp2LnH or Cp2LnSiH3), have been then studied for La only. The