Alkene fragmentation at a dimetal centre; X-ray crystal structure and protonation of the bridged carbene complex [Rh2(µ-CO){µ,µ-(CHCMe2CHCO)}(η-C5Me5)2]

Abstract

Reaction of [Rh₂(µ-CO)₂(η-C₅Me₅)₂] with 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene results in the cleavage of the carbon-carbon double bond, and the formation of the brodged carbene complex [Rh₂(µ-CO){µ,µ-(CHCMe₂CHCO)}(η-C₅Me₅)₂], which was structurally identified by X-ray crystallography, and shown to undergo selective carbon–rhodium bond cleavage on treatment with CF₃CO₂H.