Low-Temperature Hydrogenolysis of Alkanes Catalyzed by a Silica-Supported Tantalum Hydride Complex, and Evidence for a Mechanistic Switch from Group IV to Group V Metal Surface Hydride Complexes

Abstract

Carbon-carbon bond cleavage by a new mechanism, probably based on σ-bond metathesis, is reported for a silica-supported tantalum hydride, (≡SiO)2TaH (1). This complex, which is also able to realize alkane metathesis, catalytically cleaves the carbon–carbon bond of alkanes under mild conditions. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2000/z14423_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.