4,4'-Disubstituted-2,2'-bipyridine ligands coordinated to MoII and ReI cationic fragments become dearomatized by an intramolecular nucleophilic attack from a deprotonated N-alkylimidazole ligand in cis disposition. The subsequent protonation of these neutral complexes takes place on a pyridine carbon atom rather than at nitrogen, weakening an aromatic C-C bond and affording a dihydropyridyl moiety. Computational calculations allowed for the rationalization of the formation of the experimentally obtained products over other plausible alternatives.
Keywords: C−C coupling; density functional calculations; molybdenum; pyridine activation; rhenium.
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