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Abstract Neutral three‐coordinate iron alkylidenes of the form PN−Fe=CHR have been proposed as viable candidates for alkene metathesis. Indeed, during the final stages of preparing this current study, a separate report disclosed that dearomatized PN−Fe‐alkyl complexes are active precatalysts for ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene implicating PN−Fe=CHR species as possible intermediates. In yet another separate report, we prepared Zn analogues of PN−Fe‐alkyl complexes and herein provide an account for the synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of some new iron complexes with the sametBu substituted PN platform. 

Abstract Dinuclear manganese hydride complexes of the form [Mn₂(CO)₈(μ‐H)(μ‐PR₂)] (R=Ph,1; R=iPr,2) were used inE‐selective alkyne semi‐hydrogenation (E‐SASH) catalysis. Catalyst speciation studies revealed rich coordination chemistry and the complexes thus formed were isolated and in turn tested as catalysts; the results underscore the importance of dinuclearity in engendering the observedE‐selectivity and provide insights into the nature of the active catalyst. The insertion product obtained from treating2with (cyclopropylethynyl)benzene contains acis‐alkenyl bridging ligand with the cyclopropyl ring being intact. Treatment of this complex with H₂affords exclusivelytrans‐(2‐cyclopropylvinyl)benzene. These results, in addition to other control experiments, indicate a non‐radical mechanism forE‐SASH, which is highly unusual for Mn−H catalysts. The catalytically active species are virtually inactive towardscistotransalkene isomerization indicating that theE‐selective process is intrinsic and dinuclear complexes play a critical role. A reaction mechanism is proposed accounting for the observed reactivity which is fully consistent with a kinetic analysis of the rate limiting step and is further supported by DFT computations. 

Abstract This work details the synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activity of reactive low‐coordinate organozinc complexes. The complexes activate hydrogen and they appear to be more active in hydrogenation of ketones and imines than their tridentate pincer analogs. This is thought, in part, to be due to the lack of trailing third phosphorus arm present in previous work. DFT computations reveal a sigma‐bond metathesis mechanism is comparable to an alternative aromatization/dearomatization metal‐ligand cooperative mechanism.