Reductive elimination of methane from a cationic rhenium methyl hydride. Evidence for an intermediate methane complex

Although intramolecular agostic interactions between transition-metal centers and pendant C-H bonds are well-characterized, there is less evidence for the coordination of free hydrocarbon C-H bonds to transition-metal moieties. Such complexes of alkanes are of great importance due to the intense current interst in homogeneous alkane activation reactions. The authors present evidence for an intermediate methane complex in the reductive elimination of methane from a rhenium methyl hydride.