Reaction of complex ligands: Part 95. Chromium tricarbonyl complexes of polysubstituted naphthohydroquinones: regioselective synthesis via [3+2+1]-benzannulation and haptotropic rearrangement

Abstract A series of polysubstituted naphthohydroquinoid tricarbonyl chromium complexes were prepared by chromium mediated [3+2+1]-benzannulation of Fischer-type carbene complexes with alkynes. The kinetics and the thermodynamic data of the η6-η6-haptotropic rearrangements were investigated by in-situ NMR spectroscopy. The free activation energies ΔG# range from 23 to 26 kcal mol−1 and only slightly depend on the bulk and the donor/acceptor properties of the substituents. Equilibrium of metal migration was observed for naphthohydroquinone complexes bearing methoxy substituents at the non-hyroquinoid ring (ring A). In complexes bearing methyl groups or only hydrogen substituents at ring A th…