Transalkynylation and catalytic demercuration of bis(alkynyl)mercurials: two alternative mechanisms
Chemical Communications Pub Date : 01/01/1900 00:00:00 , DOI:10.1039/CC9960001059
Abstract

The complexes [RhCl(CO)(PPh3)2] and [MHCl(CO)(PPh3)3](M = Ru, Os) catalyse the demercuration of [Hg(C[triple bond, length half m-dash]CR)2](R = Ph, C6H4Me-4, Bun) to provide buta-1,3-diynes, however the reactions proceed by quite different mechanisms as indicated by (i) the isolation of [Ru{C(C[triple bond, length half m-dash]CR)[double bond, length half m-dash]CHR}Cl(CO)(PPh3)2] and its reintroduction into the catalytic cycle and (ii) the isolation of the iridium complex [IrCl(C[triple bond, length half m-dash]CR)(HgC[triple bond, length half m-dash]CR)(CO)(PPh3)2].