Actinacyclobutanes. Implementation of Thermochemically Based Strategies for the Ring-Opening Stoichiometric C-H Functionalization of Saturated and Olefinic Hydrocarbons

Carol M. Fendrick, Tobin Jay Marks

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

The strained thoracyclobutane (1, Cp’ = undergoes facile ring-opening C-H activation reactions with saturated hydrocarbons and related molecules, RH, to yield complexes of the type All new complexes have been characterized by standard spectroscopic/analytical methodology. Approximate relative rates of the R-H functionalization are Sn(CH3)4 Si(CH3)4 > cyclopropane P(CH3)3 > benzene > CH4 C2H6 cyclohexane. For Si(CH3)4, the reaction obeys the rate law v with k 7.0 (5) X at °C. In the case of Si(CH3)4, Sn(CH3)4, and P(CH3)3, further reaction (cyclometalation) after ring opening affords the heteroatom-substituted metallacycles Cp’2ThCH2Si(CH3)2CH2, Cp’2ThCH2Sn(CH3)2CH2, and NMR data indicate that the metallacyclic ring of the latter complex is probably not planar and that the phosphorus lone pair does not interact with the thorium ion. In the case of cyclopropane and benzene, a follow-up C-H activation reaction leads to the corresponding Cp/2ThR2 complexes and neopentane. The CH4/CD4 activation process by 1 exhibits a substantial kinetic isotope effect, kH/kD= 6 (2) at 60 °C, and the deuterium distribution in the products gives no evidence of significant Cp’ methyl group involvement in the methane functionalization. The ethane reaction with 1 does not lead to a stable ethyl complex, but rather thorium hydride products are detected (suggesting follow-up β-hydride elimination). There is no evidence of a reaction between 1 and cyclohexane. The reaction of 1 with propylene and ethylene does not involve C-H activation, but rather insertion of the C=C double bond into the Th-C a bond occurs to yield the metallacyclohexanes Cp’2ThCH2C(CH3)2CH2CH(CH3)CH2 and Cp/2ThCH2C(CH3)2CH2CH2CH2, respectively. The courses of most of the transformations reported herein can be readily understood on the basis of Th-ligand and R-H bond disruption enthalpy data. Mechanistically, a heterolytic “four-center” pathway appears to be the most viable description of the Th(IV)-centered C-H activation process.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)425-437
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume108
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1986

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • Chemistry(all)
  • Biochemistry
  • Colloid and Surface Chemistry

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