Evidence for formation of a Co-H bond from (H2O)2Co(dmgBF2)2 under H2: application to radical cyclizations.

Under H(2), the radical cyclization of appropriate dienes can be catalyzed by cobaloximes. H• can be abstracted from an intermediate (presumably a cobalt hydride) by trityl radicals (Ar(3)C•) or by TEMPO. The rate-determining step in these reactions is the uptake of H(2), which is second order in cobalt and first order in hydrogen; the third-order rate constant is 106(3) M(-2)·s(-1).

Unusually weak metal-hydrogen bonds in HV(CO)4(P-P) and their effectiveness as H(*) donors.

The V-H bonds in HV(CO)4(P-P) are unusually weak (55 to 58 kcal/mol). They transfer H* to styrene more rapidly than CpCr(CO)3H does and are effective stoichiometric reagents for the cyclization of appropriate 1,6-dienes.