Electrophilic alkylation of an acylmetalate complex at the metal center leading to a stable methylacetylrhenium complex. Photochemical decomposition to give 2,3-butanedione via a mechanism involving carbonylation of free methyl radicals

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00145a035

Alkylation of the rhenium metalate Li[CpRe-(CO)₂(COCH₃)] (1) can be controlled to give either the Fischer carbene complex Cp(CO)₂Re=C(OCH₃)(CH₃) or the new alkyl aryl complex Cp(CO)₂Re(COCH₃)(CH₃) (2). Photochemical decomposition of 2 under 20 atm of CO leads to 2,3-butanedione; evidence is presented that the diketone is produced by formation and carbonylation of free methyl radicals.