Syntheses, structures, and reactions of alkenyl-dirhodium complexes: coupling μ-methylene and ?-vinyl to allyl; an entry to μ-ethylidene-μ-methylene dirhodium complexes. Crystal structures of 2> and <(C5Me5Rh)2(μ-CH2)(μ-CHMe)Cl2

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(90)87256-D

Reaction of <(C5Me5Rh-μ-CH2)2Cl2> with R'CH=CHMgBr gave the dialkenyl-d-μ-methylenedirhodium complexes <(C5Me5Rh-μ-CH2)2(CH=CHR')2>, (4, R' = H; 5, R' = Me).Coupling of the μ-methylene and the ?-alkenyl occurs very easily: on heating (giving ca. 90percent