Conversion of Ethylene to Hydride and Ethylidyne by an Amido Rhenium Polyhydride

Reaction of (PNP Cy )ReOCl 2 (PNP Cy = N(SiMe 2 CH 2 PCy 2 ) 2 ) with Mg and H 2 yields (PNP Cy )Re(H) 4, whose unsaturation is demonstrated by its ability to add H 2 . “(PNP Cy )ReH 6 ” is an equilibrium mixture of a structure where all six H's are on Re and a structure where five H's are on Re and one H is on N. (PNP Cy )Re(H) 4 reacts with C 2 H 4 within 10 min at 25 °C to give ethane and (PNP Cy )ReH(⋮C−CH 3 ), together with its ethylene adduct.