Intermolecular C-H bond activation promoted by a titanium alkylidyne

The transient titanium alkylidyne complex (PNP)Ti≡CtBu (PNP = N-[2-P(CHMe2)2-4-methylphenyl]2-), prepared from α-hydrogen abstraction of the corresponding alkylidene-alkyl species (PNP)Ti=CHtBu(CH2tBu), can readily undergo intermolecular 1,2-addition of C-H bonds of benzene and SiMe4. Synthesis and reactivity, isotopic labeling, kinetics, and theoretical studies strongly favor an alkylidyne pathway and the α-H abstraction step to be the rate-determining step. Copyright © 2005 American Chemical Society.