REACTION OF trans-Mo(N2)2(Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)2 WITH ALDEHYDES AND ALDEHYDIC COMPOUNDS, ALCOHOLS, AND HYDROAROMATIC COMPOUNDS: STOICHIOMETRIC DECARBONYLATION AND DEHYDROGENATION

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0022-328X(00)84617-3

Reactions of formamides (HCONR¹R²), formate esters (HCOOR³), and aldehydes (R⁴CHO) with trans-Mo(N2)2(Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)2 yield their respective decarbonylation products 1R²NH), alcohol (R³OH), and alkane (R⁴H)> and molybdenum carbonyl complexes.The formation of the products is accounted for by assuming oxidative addition of the compounds to molybdenum, involving the cleavage of the formyl C-H bond followed by decarbonylation.Reactions of primary alcohols (RCH2OH) yield alkane (RH) and a mixture of molybdenum carbonyl complexes and molybdenum hydride.Reactions of secondary alcohols give the corresponding ketones and molybdenum hydride.Similar reactions of hydroaromatics have also been investigated.