Activation of µ-alkylidene ligands through oxidation–deprotonation: a new synthesis of µ-methyne, and is hydrogenation to µ-methyl

Abstract

A new method of activating µ-alkylidene complexes is described, involving oxidation to dications followed by deprotonation, so that µ-CH₂ is converted to µ-CHCH₂⁺; the mono-cationic products react with nucleophiles to produce derivatives of the original µ-alkylidene, while µ-CH⁺ yields µ-CH₃⁺ readily under pressure of hydrogen.