A Bis-Carbyne (Ethanediylidyne) Complex via the Catalytic Demercuration of a Mercury Bis(carbido) Complex

Abstract

Successive treatment of [Mo(≡CBr)(CO)2{HB(pzMe2)3}] (pz = pyrazol-1-yl) with nBuLi and mercuric chloride provides the bis(carbido)mercurial complex Hg[C≡Mo(CO)2{HB(pzMe2)3}]2, which is catalytically demercurated by [RhCl(CO)(PPh3)2] to provide the bis-carbyne (ethanediylidyne) compound (μ-C2)[Mo(CO)2{HB(pzMe2)3}]2.