Propargylic C(sp³)–H Bond Activation for Preparing η³-Propargyl/Allenyl Complexes of Yttrium

Propargylic C(sp3)—H bond activation of 1-substituted-1-propynes, such as 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne, 2-hexyne, and 1-phenyl-1-propyne, was achieved by treatment with an alkylyttrium complex 8 bearing an ene-diamido ligand to give the corresponding (η3-propargyl/allenyl)yttrium complexes 7a–c. A unique delocalized η3-propargyl/allenyl structure of these three complexes was revealed by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray single crystal analyses. To elucidate the reactivity of the η3-propargyl/allenyl unit of complexes 7a–c, we conducted two reactions with N-methylaniline and N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimine. For protonation by N-methylaniline, we found that the product distribution of monosubstituted internal alkynes and allenes depended on the substituent on the η3-propargyl/allenyl moiety: 7a and 7b afforded the corresponding internal alkynes as the major products, whereas the major protonation product of 7c was phenylallene. For the insertion of N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimine, complex 7a selectively yielded η3-{N,N′...