Reversible, room-temperature C—C bond activation of benzene by an isolable metal complex

Journal article

The activation of C-C bonds is of fundamental interest in the construction of complex molecules from petrochemical feedstocks. In the case of the archetypal aromatic hydrocarbon benzene, C-C cleavage is thermodynamically disfavored, and is brought about only by transient highly reactive species generated in situ. Here we show that the oxidative addition of the C-C bond in benzene by an isolated metal complex is not only possible, but occurs at room temperature and reversibly at a single aluminium center in [(NON)Al]- (where NON = 4,5-bis(2,6-diisopropylanilido)-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylxanthene). Selectivity over C-H bond activation is achieved kinetically and allows for the generation of functionalized acyclic products from benzene.

Authors: Hicks, J; Vasko, P; Goicoechea, J; Aldridge, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Journal: Journal of the American Chemical Society
• Volume: 141
• Issue: 28
• Pages: 11000-11003
• Publication date: 2019-06-28
• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b05925
• EISSN: 1520-5126
• ISSN: 0002-7863
• Pmid: 31251586
• Language: English
• Keywords: FFR