Carbon–carbon bond forming reactions of N-bound transition metal α-cyanocarbanions: a mechanistic probe for catalytic Michael reactions of nitrilesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. Experimental section. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b0/b007517p/Dedicated to Professor J. F. Normant on the occasion of his 65th birthday.
Abstract
N-Bound α-cyanocarbanion complexes Ru+Cp(NCCH−R1)(PPh3) 2 1 react with electron deficient olefins to afford the conjugate adduct Ru+Cp(NCC−R1CHR2CR3 R4)(PPh3)2 2, kinetic studies of which revealed that complex 1-catalyzed Michael reactions of nitriles proceed via transformation of 1 to 2 and subsequent ligand exchange with nitriles.