METHYL AND BENZYL C-H ACTIVATION THROUGH CARBENE INSERTION IN MR(CO)2(CARBENE)(ETA-C5H5) (M = MO OR W R = ME OR PHCH2)

The anions [M(CO)2{ = activated C(CH2)3NMe}(eta-C5H5)]- (M = Mo or W) react with BzCl (Bz = benzyl) to form the complexes MBz(CO)2{ = activated C(CH2)3NMe}(eta-C5H5), which isomerize into M{eta(2)-CHPh activated CH(CH2)3NMe}(CO)2(eta-C5H5), while the corresponding reaction of Mel with [Mo(CO)2{ = C(NMe2)Ph}(eta-C5H5)]- produces activated Mo(CO)2{eta(2)-CH2CHPhNMe2}(eta-C5H5); these reactions correspond to methyl and benzyl C-H activation through a net insertion of the carbene into the respective C-H bonds.