Synthesis and characterization of rhenabenzyne complexes.

Reactions of [ReH(5)(PMe(2)Ph)(3)] with alkynols HC≡CC(OH)(R)C≡CSiMe(3) (R=tBu, iPr, 1-adamantyl) in the presence of HCl give the vinylcarbyne complexes [Re{≡CCH=C(R)C≡CSiMe(3)}Cl(2)(PMe(2)Ph)(3)], which react with tBuMgCl to give [Re{≡CCH=C(R)C≡CSiMe(3)}HCl(PMe(2)Ph)(3)]. Treatment of [Re{≡CCH=C(R)C≡CSiMe(3)}HCl(PMe(2)Ph)(3)] with nBu(4)NF gives [Re{≡CCH=C(R)C≡CH}HCl(PMe(2)Ph)(3)], which first isomerizes to the bicyclic complexes [Re{CH=CH-C(R)=CCH=}Cl(PMe(2)Ph)(3)], and then to the rhenabenzynes [Re{≡CCH=C(R)CH=CH}Cl(PMe(2)Ph)(3)]. The NMR spectroscopic and structural data as well as the aromatic stabilization energy (ASE) and nucleus-independent chemical-shift (NICS) values suggest that these rhenabenzynes have aromatic character.