title: Bimetallic cleavage of aromatic C-H bonds by rare-earth-metal complexes.
abstract: A new type of C-H bond activation mediated by rare-earth metals under reducing conditions is reported. The synergy between reductants and rare-earth-metal complexes allows the cleavage of unactivated aromatic C-H bonds. The reaction between rare-earth-metal iodides supported by a 1,1'-ferrocenediamide ligand and potassium graphite in benzene leads to the formation of a 1:1 metal molar ratio of the corresponding metal hydride and metal phenyl complex. A proposed mechanism involving an inverse sandwich arene bimetallic intermediate is supported by experimental and computational studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California , Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.
authors.forename: Wenliang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dulong
authors.forename: Saeed I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Thibault
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cantat
authors.forename: Paula L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Diaconescu