O-H BOND ACTIVATION IN THE GAS-PHASE - THE REACTIONS OF WATER AND METHANOL WITH [FECH3]+

That even cationic fragments of late transition metals can activate O-H bonds in the gas phase is shown by studies of reaction (a) (R = H, CH3), in which a large deuterium isotope effect can be observed (k(H)/k(D) > 15). An oxidative addition mechanism is proposed for this transformation; the first step is the coordination of the dipolar H2O or CH3OH molecule to the [FeCH3]+ fragment, while the rate-determining step is the transfer of the H atom of the ROH group to the Fe atom.