A Novel Example of the Reductive Cyclization of a Diyne at a Re−Re Triple Bond:  The Reaction of Re₂Cl₄(μ-dppm)₂ with 1,7-Octadiyne

Abstract

The triply bonded dirhenium(II) complex Re2Cl4(μ-dppm)2 (1; dppm = Ph2PCH2PPh2) reacts with 1,7-octadiyne to produce the novel dirhenium(III) complex Re2Cl3(μ,η2-C8H7)(μ-dppm)2 (2). The dirhenium complex 1 serves both as a reagent for the 2-electron reductive cyclization of the diyne and as the template to stabilize the resulting [C8H7Re2] bridging unit, which is of a type not previously encountered in multiple bond dimetal chemistry