MECHANISM OF THE CARBONYLATION OF DICYCLOPENTADIENYLMOLYBDENUM DIHYDRIDE

The carbonylation of Cp2MoH2 proceeds through the intermediates Cp2MoCO, [Cp2Mo(H)CO] [CpMo(CO)3] (I) and CpMo(CO)3 to the final products [CpMo(CO)3]2 and CpMo(η3-C5H7)(CO)2. The formation of I in the carbonylation reaction has been shown to involve net hydride transfer, but an alternate synthesis has demonstrated the considerable proton basicity of Cp2MoCO. Since the net hydride transfer between Cp2MoH2 and [CpMo(CO)3]2 can be accelerated by production of metal centered radicals, the actual mechanism is not a simple two-electron process (H- transfer, but rather a sequence of one-electron steps. © 1979.