A mechanistic study of the chromium(II)-mediated transformations of trichloromethyl alkyls and carbinols: evidence for carbene, carbyne, and carbenoid intermediates

Using CrCl2 in THF at room temperature, trichloromethyl carbinols and trichloromethylalkanes are readily transformed to the highly reactive α-chlorocarbenes, carbynes and α-chloro-α-chromium(III) vinylidene carbenoids. A mechanistic study is carried out to determine the nature of the intermediates.