Reductive Elimination in Metal Complexes

The video tutorial explores reductive elimination, a process that is essentially the reverse of oxidative addition. It explains how reductive elimination reduces the oxidation state of a metal complex and forms new bonds, using examples of iridium and tungsten complexes. The tutorial highlights the importance of cis ligands for successful reductive elimination and discusses the reversibility and thermodynamic aspects of these reactions, emphasizing their role in catalytic cycles and synthesis.

What is reductive elimination in relation to oxidative addition?

• A process that decreases the coordination number of a metal

• A process that adds ligands to a metal complex

• A process that removes ligands from a metal complex

• A process that increases the oxidation state of a metal

Which type of complexes are suitable candidates for reductive elimination?

• Complexes with electron-donating substituents

• Complexes with stable Mn and Mn+2 oxidation states

• Complexes with unstable oxidation states

• Complexes with high coordination numbers

In the iridium complex example, what is formed as a result of reductive elimination?

• Propane

• Butane

• Methane

• Ethane

What happens to the oxidation state of iridium during reductive elimination?

• It decreases by two

• It increases by one

• It increases by two

• It remains the same

Why can't benzene coordinate to the tungsten complex before reductive elimination?

• The complex is coordinatively unsaturated

• The complex has a low oxidation state

• The complex is too reactive

• The complex is coordinatively saturated

What is the result of reductive elimination in the tungsten complex example?

• Formation of propane

• Formation of butane

• Formation of ethane

• Formation of methane

For reductive elimination to occur, how must the ligands be positioned?

• Adjacent to one another

• Opposite to one another

• Cis to one another

• Trans to one another

In the iridium complex example, what is formed when two hydrides eliminate?

• CH4

• H2

• H2O

• O2

What is a key feature of oxidative addition and reductive elimination?

• They are reversible processes

• They only occur in organic reactions

• They do not affect the oxidation state

• They are irreversible processes

What can be achieved by combining reductive elimination and oxidative addition?

• Substituting one set of ligands for another

• Increasing the oxidation state

• Decreasing the coordination number

• Forming new metal complexes