Tantalum pentaalkyls

The chemistry of tantalum is different. The tantalum pentaalkyl complex does not exists, because it transforms easily into a carbene complex by a-elimination. This complex reacts also with silica, leading to a supported tantalum complex.262,263 Their reaction proceeds first by the addition of the silanol OH group across the tantalum-carbon double bond followed by elimination of an alkane (Scheme 7.19). 

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