Abstract
Synthesis and full characterization of cationic isostructural "sandwich" diimine-coinage metal ethylene complexes are reported. Ethylene self-exchange kinetics proceeds by an associative exchange mechanism for Cu and Au complexes. The fastest ligand exchange was observed for Ag complex 8a. The upper limit of ΔG(‡), assuming associative ligand exchange, was found to be ca. 5.0 kcal/mol. Ethylene self-exchange in Cu complex 7b proceeds with ΔG(298)(‡) = 12.9 ± 0.1 kcal/mol, while the exchange is the slowest in Au complex 9, with ΔG(298)(‡) = 16.7 ± 0.1 kcal/mol. Copper complex 7b is unusually stable and can survive in air for years.