Schrock-type alkylidyne-metal complexes

Metal alkylidyne complexes undergo a variety of oxidation and reduction reactions as well as redox-induced transformations of the alkylidyne ligands. A method for the direct transformation of Fischer-type carbyne complexes into Schrock-type alkylidyne complexes was developed in our laboratory. Bromine oxidation of the /ra/7, -carbyne bromo tetracarbonyl complexes 49 of molybdenum and tungsten in the presence of dimethox-yethane affords the dme-stabilized alkylidyne tribromo metal complexes 50 [Eq. (42)] (81). For alkyl-substituted complexes (R = Me, CH2CMe3)... 

Alkylidyne-metal complexes have traditionally been divided into two categories, according to the oxidation state of the metals, in a manner directly analogous to the classification of the very large number of known alkylidene-metal species (19a,b). Hence Fischer-type alkylidyne complexes involve metals in low oxidation states, while Schrock-type complexes generally involve more electropositive metals with higher oxidation states (13). However, the properties of some of the numerous carbyne-metal complexes that have been characterized since the early days have in many cases blurred the distinction between the two classes (12a). 

Complexes containing metal-carbon triple bonds in which the metal is in a relatively high formal oxidation state are frequently designated alkylidynes. Carbyne complexes are also sometimes classified as Fischer-type or Schrock-type, as in the case of carbene complexes. The distinction between these is discussed in Chapter 10. 

The chemistry of alkylidene and alkylidyne complexes of early transition metals was developed by Schrock and co-workers and these complexes turned out to be of crucial importance to alkene and alkyne metathesis. Initially their research focused on tantalum complexes of the type CpTaCEIE, which after a-elimination (Figure 16.6) led to alkylidene complexes Cp(R)Cl2Ta=CHR [11]. 

Alkylidene and alkylidyne complexes are also referred to as carbene and carbyne complexes. Alkylidene complexes are of two types. The ones in which the metal is in a low oxidation state, like the chromium complex 2.37, are called Fischer carbenes. In contrast, complex 2.38, wha e the metal ion is in a high oxidation state, is referred to as a Schrock carbene. 

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