Formation of an η3-allyl and a cyclic γ-hydroxyalkyl complex of molybdenum from reaction of MoH2(η5-cyclopentadienyl)2 with homoallyl alcohol

The reaction of Cp2MoH2 (Cp=η5-C5H5) with homoallyl alcohol in the presence of a protonic acid afforded a cationic η3-crotyl molybdenum complex and a cyclic α-methyl-γ-hydroxypropyl molybdenum complex. This reaction proceeds via the stepwise formation of the cyclic complex, followed by formation of the η3-crotyl complex.