cis- and trans-Dimethyl-di-µ-methylene-bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)dirhodium as models for Fischer–Tropsch reactions on metal surfaces

Abstract

Reaction of [(RhC5Me5)2Cl4] with methyl-lithium gives cis-[(RhC5Me5)2(µ-CH2)2Me2](2) which slowly isomerises to trans-[(RhC5Me5)2(µ-CH2)2Me2](3); pyrolysis of (2) gives propene, methane, and some ethylene.