Imidazole-nitrile or imidazole-isonitrile C-C coupling on rhenium tricarbonyl complexes.

ABSTRACT

Ligand activation Deprotonation of the nitrile or isonitrile complexes [Re(CO)3(N-RIm)2(L)](+) (N-RIm = N-alkylimidazole; L = N≡CtBu, C≡NtBu) selectively afforded alkylidenamido or iminoacyl derivatives, respectively, in which C-C coupling has occurred. Protonation of the latter complex leads to aminocarbene products.