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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Transition metal activation and functionalization of C-H bonds. Progress report, June 1, 1983-May 31, 1984

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5319237

The initial year of this project has been directed at better understanding the mechanism of activation of carbon-hydrogen bonds by transition metal complexes. Our studies have focused upon derivatives of the a rhodium complex, and have provided a great deal of information about the mechanism and thermodynamics of C-H bond activation. Our approach has been to synthesize both aryl and alkyl derivatives of the type (C/sub 5/Me/sub 5/)Rh(PMe/sub 3/)(R)H. Surprisingly, the aryl derivatives are stable up to +60/sup 0/C whereas the alkyl derivatives undergo elimination of alkane at -20/sup 0/C. Our studies indicate that the aryl complexes are in fact in equilibrium with an eta/sup 2/-arene derivative, affording them with an overall greater stability than the alkyl complexes. Kinetic and thermodynamic experiments indicate that the rhodium-phenyl bond is approx. 13 Kcal/mole stronger than the rhodium-methyl bond. It is shown that, unlike alkanes, arenes coordinate prior to activation. 1 figure.

Research Organization:
Rochester Univ., NY (USA). Dept. of Chemistry
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-83ER13095
OSTI ID:
5319237
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/13095-1; ON: DE84006343
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English