The reactivity of the [(Phen)Cr(CO)_3] intermediate with phosphines and phosphites (L) has been investigated through ligand-competition studies. This intermediate possesses virtually no ability to discriminate among L. The agreement between reactivity data for the thermal and photochemically-generated intermediates indicates that the same intermediate is produced via each process. Pulsed laser flash photolysis of (n^2-NP)M(CO)_4 (I) (M = Cr, Mo; NP = 1-diethylamino-2-diphenylphosphinoethane) in the absence and presence of P (OPr-i)_3 (L) in 1,2-dichloroethane and chlorobenzene induces unimolecular ring-opening to afford [(n^1-NP)M(CO)_4] (II), in which the bidentate ligand is coordinated through P. Reaction of this intermediate takes place through competitive ring-reclosure and attack at (II) by L to afford (I) and cis-(n^1-NP) (L)M(CO)_4.

A variable temperature 13C and 6Li NMR study has been conducted for 6Li-enriched ethyl-, n-propyl-, isopropyl-, n-butyl-, isobutyl-, t-butyl--, isopentyl-, 2-ethylbutyl-, and n-hexyllithium in cyclopentane. Significant differences in the 13C NMR parameters are observed as a function of the alkyl group and temperature. These changes are compared to the 6Li spectra and explained in terms of the aggregates present. 13C-6Li coupling is readily observed in both the 13 6 C and Li spectra of compounds which contain branching at either the alpha or beta carbons of the alkyl group. This coupling has been used to identify the aggregates present in solution and to identify the fluxional behavior of these aggregates.