Organolanthanides and Actinides as Catalysts for Olefin Hydrogenation

A plausible hypothesis for olefin hydrogenation appears to be a non oxidative hydrogenolysis of the metal alkyl bond (formed by alkene insertion into a preformed M—H bond) via a four-center transition state. Such a pathway is well documented in main group chemistry, the alkyls of Li and A1 being particularly relevant examples. 

The originality of the system comes from the coupling of an olefin/ hydride insertion step with a four-center hydrogenolysis of the resulting metal—carbon bond. It is not clear whether olefin insertion or hydroge- 

The significant metal— ligand bond polarity of organoactinides and lanthanides is also evidenced by the rapid reactions of their hydrides with ketones, aldehydes and alcohols, which confirms their hydridic character. 

---