[(triple bond; length of mdashSiO)TaV(double bond; length as m-dashCH2)Cl2], the first tantalum methylidene species prepared and identified on the silica surface

A novel surface tantalum methylidene [(triple bond; length of mdashSiO)TaV(double bond; length as m-dashCH2)Cl2] was obtained via thermal decomposition of the well-defined surface species [(triple bond; length of mdashSiO)TaVCl2Me2]. This first surface tantalum methylidene ever synthesized has been fully characterized and the kinetics of the α-hydrogen abstraction reaction has also been investigated in the heterogeneous system.