Formation of carbene species in the reaction of lithium alkyls with molybdenum, tungsten, and cobalt chlorides

Abstract

Ethyl derivatives of Mo and W and amyl derivatives of Mo undergo not only β-cleavage with the formation of equimolar amounts of the corresponding alkane and alkene but also α-cleavage accompanied by the generation of carbene species (methyl- and butylcarbenes) in these systems. The latter decomposition pathway is also proposed for ethyl and amyl cobalt derivatives.