Hydride pentamethylcyclopentadienyl actinide

Fagan PJ, ManriquezJM, Maatta EA, Seyam AM, Marks TJ. Synthesis and properties of bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) actinide hydrocarbyls and hydrides. A new class of highly reactive Telement organometallic compounds. J Am Chem Soc. 1981 103 ... 

The conversion of CO + H2 (syn-gas) to hydrocarbons and oxygenates (Fischer-Tropsch chemistry)119 is of considerable industrial importance and recently the activation and fixation of carbon monoxide in homogeneous systems has been an active area for research.120,121 The early transition elements and the early actinide elements, in particular zirconium124 and thorium,125 126 supported by two pentamethylcyclopentadienyl ligands have provided a rich chemistry in the non-catalytic activation of CO. Reactions of alkyl and hydride ligands attached to the Cp2M centers with CO lead to formation of reactive tf2-acyl or -formyl compounds.125,126 These may be viewed in terms of the resonance forms (1) and (2) shown below. 

The lanthanides and actinides are also active in electrophilic attack on arenes. Bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)lutetium methyl or hydride complexes react readily with benzene to give phenyl complexes and methane or dihydrogen . Similar reactions are observed for Sc and Th In a remarkable reaction benzene can be dimetallated by Lu, yielding II ... 

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