Stereoelectronic control of the regioselectivity of both electrophilic and nucleophilic substitution of η⁶-(1,1-dimethylindane)tricarbonyl-chromium(0)

Abstract

η 6 -(1,1-Dimethylindane)tricarbonylchromium(0) reacts with the nucleophile LiC(Me)2CN at C-5, a position eclipsed by a metal carbonyl bond in the preferred conformation of the molecule, and at C-6 and C-4, positions not eclipsed by metal carbonyl bonds with the electrophile MeCO+, confirming that stereoelectronic effects can dominate the regioselectivity of substitution of arenetricarbonylchromium complexes where the tricarbonyl-chromium unit adopts a highly preferred conformation.