ChemInform Abstract: A New Method for the Activation of Metal‐Bound Methyl Groups. Oxidative Disproportionation to Coordinated Ethylene and Methane.

Abstract

ChemInform Abstract With Fe complex (III) as electron acceptor the methyl Re complex (I) combined with (II) at -78 rc C reacts on warming to give (IV) and (V) and methane (VI); (IV) disproportionates to ethylene complex (VII) from which ethylene (X) may be liberated by nitrile (VIII). The reaction is studied as well with CH3CN instead of (II) and the mechanism is probed by electrochemical techniques. So the derivative cyclic voltammetry response for the oxidation of (I) in CH3CN/Bu4N+PF6-at a voltage sweep rate of 100 V/s indicates a quasi-reversible charge transfer to produce a relatively long-lived cation radical (I)•+ (rate of its disappearance measured from -24 to 20 rc C).