The activation of small molecules by Lewis acid/Lewis base combinations that form very weak classical adducts is a recently exploited phenomenon in main group element chemistry (Piers, W. E. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996 , 118, 9440-9441; Stephan et al, Science 2006 , 314, 124).  Extension of these concepts to transition metal ion pairs with weakly coordinating anions, where the cation functions as the Lewis acid and the anion functions as the Lewis base, has been less explored, and has potential for exhibiting meaningful catalytic turnover in reactions of considerable current interest.  We report here the use of ion pairs of general formula [Cp2Sc]+[RB(C6F5)3]- for the activation of CO2 and CO.  In the case of CO2, highly active catalysts for the hydrosilation of CO2 to CH4 are obtained, while for CO, novel reactivity patterns for CO activation are described.

Activation of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide with organoscandium-hydridoborate ion pairs

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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