Methyl and benzyl C–H activation through carbene insertion in MR(CO)2(carbene)(η-C5H5)(M = Mo or W; R = Me or PhCH2)

Abstract

The anions [M(CO)₂([graphic omitted]Me)(η-C₅H₅)]^–(M = Mo or W) react with BzCl (Bz = benzyl) to form the complexes MBz(CO)₂([graphic omitted]Me)(η-C₅H₅), which isomerize into [graphic omitted]Me}(CO)₂(η-C₅H₅), while the corresponding reaction of Mel with [Mo(CO)₂{C(NMe₂)Ph}(η-C₅H₅)]^– produces [graphic omitted]Me₂}(η-C₅H₅); these reactions correspond to methyl and benzyl C–H activation through a net insertion of the carbene into the respective C–H bonds.