Reactions of (η6-Arene)tricarbonylchromium Complexes: Hydrogenation,Nitration, and Bromination

In this study, we explore the reactions of coordinated arenes, e.g., hydrogenation, nitration, and bromination, to prepare compounds which are not accessible from conventional organic synthesis. The reaction products formed from reactions with the coordinated and the uncoordinated arenes are compared. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) employed for this study include phenanthrene, methyl- and acetyl-phenanthrene, and benza]anthracene (BA), The tricarbonylchromium group demonstrated various characteristics which influence the reactions in this work, such as an electronic effect to deactivate hydrogenation, a steric effect to exhibit, highly positional selective nitration, and a free radical mechanism to direct bromine to attack at the ring coordinated to tricarbonylchromium.