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Tert-butyl-substituted tetramethylcyclopentadiene [C5HMe 4 Bu] was reacted with Ru3(CO)12 to prepare [(η5-C5Me 4 Bu)Ru(CO)(μ-CO)]2. The complex was characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The complex was investigated as a catalyst in the aerobic oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes and ketones in the presence of 2,2’,6,6’-tetramethylpiperidine N-oxide (TEMPO) as co-oxidant. The combination of [(η5-C5Me 4 Bu)Ru(CO)(μ-CO)]2 and TEMPO afforded an efficient catalytic system for the aerobic oxidation of a variety of primary and secondary alcohols, giving the corresponding carbonyl compounds in good-to-excellent yields.

Reactions of the substituted tetramethylcyclopentadienes [C5HMe4R] [R = t Bu, Ph, CH2CH2C(CH3)3] with Mo(CO)3(CH3CN)3 in refluxing xylene gave a series of dinuclear molybdenum carbonyl complexes [(η5-C5Me4R)Mo(CO)3]2 [R = t Bu (1), Ph (2), CH2CH2C(CH3)3 (3)], [(η5-C5Me t Bu)Mo(μ-CO)2]2 (4)], and [(η5-C5Me4) t Bu]2Mo2O4(μ-O) (5)], respectively. Complexes 1–5 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. In addition, their crystal structures were determined by X-ray crystal diffraction analysis. The catalytic activities of complexes 1–3 in Friedel–Crafts acylation in the presence of o-chloranil has also been investigated; the reactions were achieved under mild conditions to give the corresponding products in moderate yields.

A series of six alkyl-substituted tetramethylcyclopentadienyl mononuclear metal carbonyl complexes [(η 5-C5Me4R)Re(CO)3] [R = allyl (1), i-Pr (2), n-butyl (3), t-butyl (4), benzyl (5), CH(CH2)4 (6)] have been synthesized by treating the corresponding ligands (C5Me4R) [R = allyl, i-Pr, n-butyl, t-butyl, benzyl, CH(CH2)4] with Re2(CO)10 in refluxing xylene. The six new complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of all six complexes were determined by X-ray crystal diffraction analysis, showing that they have similar molecular structures, being mononuclear carbonyl complexes. In each of these complexes, the Re atom is η 5 -coordinated to the cyclopentadienyl ring. Complexes 1–5 have significant catalytic activity in Friedel–Crafts reactions of aromatic compounds with alkylation reagents. Compared with traditional catalysts, these mononuclear rhenium carbonyl complexes have obvious advantages such as lower amounts of catalyst, mild reaction conditions and environmentally friendly chemistry.