Carboalumination of a chromium–chromium quintuple bond

Nat Chem. 2009 Jul;1(4):322-5. doi: 10.1038/nchem.255.

Abstract

Bonds are at the very heart of chemistry. Although the order of carbon–carbon bonds only extends to triple bonds, metal–metal bond orders of up to five are known for stable compounds, particularly between chromium atoms. Carbometallation and especially carboalumination reactions of carbon–carbon double and triple bonds are a well established synthetic protocol in organometallic chemistry and organic synthesis. We now extend these reactions to compounds containing chromium–chromium quintuple bonds. Analogous reactivity patterns indicate that such quintuple bonds are not as exotic as previously assumed. Yet the particularities of these reactions reflect the specific nature of the high metal–metal bond orders.

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum Compounds / chemistry*
  • Carbon / chemistry*
  • Chromium / chemistry*
  • Furans / chemistry
  • Molecular Structure
  • Organic Chemicals / chemistry*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry

Substances

  • Aluminum Compounds
  • Furans
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Chromium
  • tetrahydrofuran
  • Carbon