Molybdenum-stabilized carbanions: a novel decyanation reaction with stereoelectronic requirement suggesting participation of the η3-allyl–Mo(CO)2(cp)(cp =η5-C5H5) moiety in stabilizing neighbouring carbanions

Abstract

Carbanions stabilized by a nitrile group are readily generated in the presence of an η³-allyl–Mo(CO)₂(cp)(cp =η⁵-C₅H₅) group, by treatment of complexes (5) with lithium di-isopropylamide, and undergo regio- and stereo-specific reaction with suitable electrophiles; a novel decyanation reaction is observed when (5) is treated with butyl-lithium, resulting in the generation of carbanion species (15), which also undergoes regio- and stereo-controlled reaction with electrophiles.