Alkyne Coupling Reactions Mediated by Organolanthanides. Probing the Mechanism by Metal and Alkyne Variation

Craig M. Forsyth, Steven P. Nolan, Charlotte L. Stern, Tobin J. Marks*, Arnold L. Rheingold

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

This contribution addresses, using the non-redox-active ion La3+, the constraints under which lanthanide MCCR functionalities undergo facile coupling to yield binuclear M2(μ-RC4R) complexes. The reaction of Cp′2LaCHTMS2 (Cp′ = η5-Me5C5) with PhCCH at room temperature yields the coupled product (Cp′2La)2(μ-PhC4Ph) (monoclinic space group C2/m, a = 15.600(2) Å, b = 14.318(2) Å, c = 15.368(2) Å, β = 114.17(1)°, Z = 2, R = 0.050, Rw = 0.063) plus CH2TMS2. Reaction of Cp′2LaCHTMS2 with t-BuCCH at 0 °C, yields the uncoupled dimer (Cp′2LaC2-t-Bu)2 (plus CH2TMS2), which, in toluene solution at 50 and 60 °C, undergoes clean unimolecular conversion to the coupled dimer (Cp′2La)2(μ-t-BuC4-t-Bu) (monoclinic space group P21/n, a = 11.232(2) Å, b = 14.199(3) Å, c = 15.309(4) Å, β = 103.35(2)°, Z = 2, R = 0.027, Rw = 0.034). These results argue that excursions in formal metal oxidation state (+3 ⇌ +2) are not important along the reaction coordinate, that acetylene aryl substituents are not necessary for the coupling process to occur, and that the immediate kinetic precursor to the coupled product is an uncoupled dimer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3618-3623
Number of pages6
JournalOrganometallics
Volume12
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1993

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry

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