C–H bond activation induced by thorium metallacyclopropene complexes: a combined experimental and computational study

Inter- and intramolecular C–H bond activations by thorium metallacyclopropene complexes were comprehensively studied. The reduction of [η(5)-1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(2)](2)ThCl(2) (1) with potassium graphite (KC(8)) in the presence of internal alkynes (PhC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CR) yields the corresponding thorium metallacyclopropenes [η(5)-1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(2)](2)Th(η(2)-C(2)Ph(R)) (R = Ph (2), Me (3), (i)Pr (4), C(6)H(11) (5)). Complexes 3–5 derived from phenyl(alkyl)acetylenes are very reactive resulting in an intramolecular C–H bond activation of the 1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(2) ligand. In contrast, no intramolecular C–H bond activation is observed for the diphenylacetylene derived complex 2, but it does activate α-C–H bonds in pyridine or carbonyl derivatives upon coordination. Density functional theory (DFT) studies complement the experimental studies and provide additional insights into the observed reactivity.