10.1039/c0dt00661k
The study investigates the C–H activation of cyclic alkanes by the rhodium complexes Cp'Rh(CO)? (Cp' = η?-C?H? or η?-C?Me?) using fast time-resolved infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The research explores how the rate of oxidative cleavage varies among different complexes and alkanes, specifically focusing on cyclopentane, cyclohexane, and neopentane. Unlike linear alkanes, where activation occurs at primary C–H bonds with rate dependence on chain hopping, cyclic alkanes exhibit activation controlled mainly by alkane binding strength. The study highlights that steric hindrance slows down the activation of neopentane compared to cyclic alkanes. The findings contribute to understanding transition metal-mediated C–H bond activation, a crucial step for applications like alkane functionalization and catalytic transformations.