Mechanism of vinylic and allylic carbon-fluorine bond activation of non-perfluorinated olefins using Cp*(2)ZrH(2)

Cp(2)ZrH(2) (1) (Cp = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) reacts with vinylic carbon-fluorine bonds of CF(2)=CH(2) and 1,1-difluoromethylenecyclohexane (CF(2)=C(6)H(10)) to afford Cp(2)ZrHF (2) and hydrodefluorinated products. Experimental evidence suggests that an insertion/beta-fluoride elimination mechanism is occurring. Complex 1 reacts with allylic C-F bonds of the olefins, CH(2)=CHCF(3), CH(2)=CHCF(2)CF(2)CF(2)CF(3), and CH(2)=C(CF(3))(2) to give preferentially 2 and CH(3)-CH=CF(2), CH(3)-CH=CF-CF(2)CF(2)CF(3), and CF(2)=C(CF(3))(CH(3)), respectively, by insertion/beta-fluoride elimination. In the reactions of 1 with CH(2)=CHCF(3) and CH(2)=CHCF(2)CF(2)CF(2)CF(3), both primary and secondary alkylzirconium olefin insertion intermediates were observed in the (1)H and (19)F NMR spectra at low temperature. A deuterium labeling study revealed that more than one olefin-dihydride complex is likely to exist prior to olefin insertion. In the presence of excess 1 and H(2), CH(2)=CHCF(3) and CH(2)=CHCF(2)CF(2)CF(2)CF(3) are reduced to propane and (E)-CH(3)CH(2)CF=CFCF(2)CF(3), respectively.