title: Alkane coordination selectivity in hydrocarbon activation by [Tp'Rh(CNneopentyl)]: the role of alkane complexes.
abstract: The competitive activation of C-H bonds of linear, cyclic, and branched hydrocarbons using the coordinatively unsaturated 16-electron [Tp'RhL] reactive fragment have been studied (Tp' = tris-(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate; L = CNCH2CMe3). Activation of the hydrocarbons leads to the formation of Tp'Rh(L)(R)(H) alkyl complexes, which were converted to the stable chlorides immediately following the activation of the bonds via photolysis of Tp'Rh(L)(PhN=C=NCH2CMe3) in the solvent mixture. The products were analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The experiments described provide relative rates for the coordination of primary and secondary C-H bonds to the Rh metal center, indicating a 1.5x preference for the latter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Vetter
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flaschenriem
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Jones