Activation of sp3 carbon–hydrogen bonds of alkylbenzenes by rhenium forming binuclear µ-arylidene derivatives

Abstract

Co-condensation of rhenium atoms with the arenas 1,3,5-R₃C₆H₃, R₃= MeH₂ or Me₃, or 1,4-Me₂C₆H₄ gives the compounds [{(η-arene)Re}₂(µ-CHR′)(µ-H)₂], where R′= Ph, 3,5-Me₂C₆H₃, or 4-MeC₆H₄ respectively, which contain a µ-arylidene group; the structurally related compounds [{(η-arene)Re}₂(µ-CR¹R²)(µ-H)₂], where R¹,R²= Me, Ph or H, CH₂Ph, are formed from rhenium atoms and ethylbenzene.