Bond energy M–C/H–C correlations: dual theoretical and experimental approach to the sensitivity of M–C bond strength to substituentsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: methods of calculation; Fig. S1: Comparison of calculated and experimental C–H bond dissociation energies for organic molecules; Table S1, comparison of calculated and experimental CO-stretching frequencies; Table S2, total energies, BDE for Re–C and H–C; Table S3, NPA charges q(C) and q(aryl) for the organic fragments C6H6–nFn and the rhenium complexes; preparation and spectroscopic data for Re(η5-C5Me5)(CO)2(2,6-C6H3F2)H. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b2/b210036n/

Abstract

DFT methods are used to quantify the relationship between M-C and H-C bond energies; for MLn = Re(eta5-C5H5)(CO)2H and fluorinated aryl ligands, theoretical and experimental investigations of ortho-fluorine substitution indicate a much larger increase in the M-C than in the H-C bond energy, so stabilising C-H activation products.