Binding and activation of small molecules by a quintuply bonded chromium dimer

Abstract

The quintuply bonded [^HL^iPrCr]₂ reacts with various small molecules, revealing a pattern of two kinds of transformations. Unsaturated molecules that are neither polar nor oxidizing form binuclear [2+n] cycloaddition products retaining Cr–Cr quadruple bonds. In contrast, polar or oxidizing molecules effect the complete cleavage of the Cr–Cr bond.