title: Mechanism of rhodium-catalyzed carbene formation from diazo compounds.
abstract: [reaction: see text] A large and normal nitrogen-15 kinetic isotope effect of 1.035 +/- 0.003 provides direct support for the proposed mechanism for the rhodium-catalyzed carbene formation from diazo compounds, which involves the fast formation of a metal-diazo complex followed by rate-limiting extrusion of N2. The large magnitude of the KIE indicates extensive C-N bond fission in the transition state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California 94132, USA.
authors.forename: Freeman M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Jianbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Alvan C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hengge
authors.forename: Weiming
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D008697:Methane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D012238:Rhodium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D006838:Hydrocarbons; C030011:carbene; D012238:Rhodium; D008697:Methane