Reduction of ruthenium and iron µ-methylene complexes with hydrosilanes producing alkane: a model system for methanation via the Fischer–Tropsch mechanism

Abstract

Reduction of the Ru and Fe µ-methylene complexes [M₂(C₅H₅)₂(µ-CHR)(µ-CO)(CO)₂](2: M = Ru, R = H; 3: M = Fe, R = CH₂Ph) with hydrosilanes produces alkane (RMe) by way of dinuclear hydrido-methylene and methyl intermediates as confirmed by the reaction of [Ru₂(C₅H₅)₂(µ-CHR)(µ-CO)(CO)(NCMe)]9 with hydrosilanes; such a reaction sequence can be viewed as a model system for methanation via the Fischer–Tropsch mechanism.