Control of Selectivity in the Hydromethylation of Olefins via Ligand Modification in Scandocene Catalysts

The ansa complex Me2Si(C5Me4)2ScMe (2) was isolated in 45% yield from the reaction of Me2Si(C5Me4)2ScCH2CH(CH2CH3)2 (1) with methane. The rate of the C−H bond activation of methane by 2 was found to be 2 orders of magnitude greater than that by Cp*2ScMe. Compound 2 is a catalyst for the addition of methane across the double bond of secondary terminal olefins.