Terminal alkyne insertion into a thiolate-bridged dirhodium hydride complex derived from heterolytic cleavage of H2

Abstract

Thiolate-bridged dirhodium and diiridium complexes can facilely realize heterolytic cleavage of H₂ across the metal–sulfur bond to generate the corresponding hydride bridged complexes. Furthermore, terminal alkynes can insert the Rh–H–Rh fragment to afford σ:π alkenyl bridged complexes and then convert to the corresponding alkenes in the presence of a reductant and an acid.