Unprecedented reactivity of vinylidene complexes with diazomethane: insertion of the methylene group into a C–H bond
Abstract
[(η-C5H5)Ru{Ph2PCH(Me)CH(Me)PPh2}(CCHR)]PF6(R = Ph or But) react with diazomethane to give the corresponding methylvinylidene complexes [(η-C5H5)Ru{Ph2PCH(Me)CH(Me)PPh2}{CC(Me)R}]PF6; this novel type of reactivity suggests an alternative mechanism for the formation of branched hydrocarbons in the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis.