Carbon–carbon bond forming reactions of N-bound transition metal α-cyanocarbanions: a mechanistic probe for catalytic Michael reactions of nitrilesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. Experimental section. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b0/b007517p/Dedicated to Professor J. F. Normant on the occasion of his 65th birthday.

Abstract

N-Bound α-cyanocarbanion complexes Ru⁺Cp(NCCH⁻R¹)(PPh₃) ₂ 1 react with electron deficient olefins to afford the conjugate adduct Ru⁺Cp(NCC⁻R¹CHR²CR³ R⁴)(PPh₃)₂ 2, kinetic studies of which revealed that complex 1-catalyzed Michael reactions of nitriles proceed via transformation of 1 to 2 and subsequent ligand exchange with nitriles.