Synthesis and catalytic activity of rhenium carbonyl complexes containing alkyl-substituted tetramethylcyclopentadienyl ligands

Abstract

A series of six alkyl-substituted tetramethylcyclopentadienyl mononuclear metal carbonyl complexes [(η 5-C5Me4R)Re(CO)3] [R = allyl (1), i-Pr (2), n-butyl (3), t-butyl (4), benzyl (5), CH(CH2)4 (6)] have been synthesized by treating the corresponding ligands (C5Me4R) [R = allyl, i-Pr, n-butyl, t-butyl, benzyl, CH(CH2)4] with Re2(CO)10 in refluxing xylene. The six new complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of all six complexes were determined by X-ray crystal diffraction analysis, showing that they have similar molecular structures, being mononuclear carbonyl complexes. In each of these complexes, the Re atom is η 5 -coordinated to the cyclopentadienyl ring. Complexes 1–5 have significant catalytic activity in Friedel–Crafts reactions of aromatic compounds with alkylation reagents. Compared with traditional catalysts, these mononuclear rhenium carbonyl complexes have obvious advantages such as lower amounts of catalyst, mild reaction conditions and environmentally friendly chemistry.