Organometallic Reactions Part 3: Reductive Elimination

The video tutorial explains reductive elimination as the reverse process of oxidative addition. It covers the mechanism, examples, and applications of reductive elimination in organometallic chemistry. The tutorial also discusses the reversibility of these reactions and their role in synthesis, highlighting the importance of oxidation states and coordination sites in facilitating these processes.

What is the primary outcome of reductive elimination in the context of the iridium complex example?

• Formation of hydrogen gas

• Formation of methane

• Formation of ethane

• Formation of water

How does reductive elimination affect the oxidation state of a metal complex?

• It increases the oxidation state by two.

• It decreases the oxidation state by two.

• It does not change the oxidation state.

• It increases the oxidation state by one.

Why is a complex with a lower oxidation state more suitable for oxidative addition?

• It has a higher electron count.

• It is more stable.

• It is less reactive.

• It has more coordination sites available.

What is a common requirement for ligands to undergo reductive elimination?

• They must be trans to each other.

• They must be in different oxidation states.

• They must be cis to each other.

• They must be identical.

In the context of catalytic cycles, what is a key factor that allows non-thermodynamically favorable steps to occur?

• Presence of a catalyst

• High pressure

• Negative overall change in Gibbs free energy

• High temperature