Reversible intramolecular hydride transfer between tantalum and an aromatic ring: an eta(5)-cyclohexadienyl complex as a masked hydride.

The methyl triflate complex (2,6-Mes2C6H3N=)(2,6-Mes2C6H3NH)TaMe(OSO2CF3) reacts cleanly with H2 to give the eta5-cyclohexadienyl complex 3. Complex 3 therefore results from the insertion of an arene ring into an M-H bond, which has been proposed as the first step in catalytic arene hydrogenations. This insertion is reversible, such that 3 behaves as a "masked hydride" in its reaction chemistry.