Alkane activation by a highly electrophilic zirconium hydride complex supported on silica

Abstract

The silica-grafted zirconium hydride complex, synthesized by hydrogenolysis of the well-defined SiOZrNp₃, activates the C–H bonds of cyclooctane and methane as shown by the formation of the corresponding cyclooctyl-and methyl-zirconium complexes.