Control of selectivity in the hydromethylation of olefins via ligand modification in scandocene catalysts

The ansa complex Me2Si(C5Me4)(2)ScMe (2) was isolated in 45% yield from the reaction of Me2Si(C5Me4)(2)SCCH2CH(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.