Reductive elimination reaction of rhenium complexes trans-(η5-C5Me5)Re(CO)2(chloroaryl)Cl

Thermal reaction of the chloroaryl-chloride complexes trans-(η5-C5Me5)Re(CO)2(ArCl)Cl (ArCl = 3-ClC6H4, 3-ClC6H3(4-Me) and 3,5-Cl2C6H3) in acetonitrile did not interconvert to the cis isomer, instead the complex ReCl(CO)2(NCMe)3 and the corresponding 5-ArCl-1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadiene were formed. Similar reductive elimination products were obtained when the starting rhenium complexes were reacted with trimethylphosphite in toluene.