Room Temperature Dehydrogenation of Ethane to Ethylene

The transient titanium alkylidyne, (PNP)Ti≡C(t)Bu (PNP = N[2-P(i)Pr(2)-4-methylphenyl](2)(-)), activates a C-H bond of ethane at room temperature, and a β-hydrogen of the resulting ethyl ligand is subsequently transferred to the adjacent alkylidene ligand to form an ethylene adduct of titanium. Treatment of the ethylene complex with two-electron oxidants such as organic azides results in extrusion of ethene concomitant with formation of a mononuclear titanium imido complex.