Competition Between Concerted and Stepwise Dynamics in the Triplet Di‐π‐Methane Rearrangement

The molecular dynamics of the triplet‐state Zimmerman di‐π‐methane rearrangement of dibenzobarrelene were computed with B3LYP and M06‐2X density functionals. All productive quasiclassical trajectories involve sequential formation and cleavage of C? C bonds and an intermediate with lifetimes ranging from 13 to 1160 fs. Both dynamically concerted and stepwise trajectories are found. The average lifetime of this intermediate is significantly shorter than predicted by either transition‐state theory or the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus model, thus indicating the non‐statistical nature of the reaction mechanism.     

Cover Picture: A Phosphorus Analogue of Bis(η4‐cyclobutadiene)iron(0) (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 17/2009)

A rare phosphorus analogue of the elusive complex bis(η⁴‐cyclobutadiene)iron(0) is reported by K. Lammertsma et al. in their Communication on page 3104 ff. The background of the cover picture shows John Montagu (1718–1792), 4th Earl of Sandwich and 1st Lord of the Admiralty, who certainly would not have dreamt that an important class of organometallic compounds, sandwich complexes, would bear his name one day. The synthesis of [Fe(P₂C₂tBu₂)₂] shows that sandwich complexes are still topical objects of research.