The coupling of vinyl and µ-methylene ligands: a new view of the mechanism of the Fischer–Tropsch polymerisation reaction

Abstract

The ready decomposition of the divinyl-di-µ-methylene-dirhodium complex,[{C₅Me₅Rh(µ-CH₂)(CHCH₂)}₂], to give C₃(propene or η³-allylic ligands) by linking of the vinyl and methylene ligands, prompts the proposal of a new mechanism for the polymerisation step in the Fischer–Tropsch reaction in which the polymer chain carriers are surface alkenyls rather than alkyls.