Activation of mono- and di-nuclear polyhydrides of rhenium: protonation, solvation, and oxidation
Abstract
Activation of the rhenium polyhydrides ReH5(PPh3)2L(L = monodentate ligand) and Re2H8(PPh3)4 has been achieved through their protonation (using HBF4), the formation of solvento-complexes, and their oxidation to reactive paramagnetic cations, strategies which have led to a range of novel species, including [ReH(NCMe)3(PPh3)2L]2+, and [Re2H5(PPh3)4(CNBut)2]+ together with their ‘17-electron’ paramagnetic congeners.