ACTIVATION OF C-H BONDS IN SATURATED HYDROCARBONS. THE FORMATION OF BIS-(TRIPHENYLPHOSPHINE)(η-ALKADIENE)RHENIUM TRIHYDRIDES FROM n-ALKANES, AND THEIR SELECTIVE CONVERSION INTO THE CORRESPONDING 1-ALKENES.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(01)80135-0

n-Alkanes (C6-C8) react at 70 deg C with bis(triphenylphosphine)-rhenium heptahydride and 3,3-dimethylbutene to afford equilibrium mixtures of the corresponding bis(triphenylphosphine)(η-conjugated-diene)-rhenium trihydrides; treatment of these mixtures with trimethylphosphite at 60 deg C converts them, in >95percent yield and with >98percent selectivity, into the corresponding 1-alkenes.