Deoxygenative
coupling of CO to value-added C≥2 products is challenging
and mechanistically poorly understood. Herein,
we report a mechanistic investigation into the reductive coupling
of CO, which provides new fundamental insights into a multielectron
bond-breaking and bond-making transformation. In our studies, the
formation of a bis(siloxycarbyne) complex precedes C–O bond
cleavage. At −78 °C, over days, C–C coupling occurs
without C–O cleavage. However, upon warming to 0 °C, C–O
cleavage is observed from this bis(siloxycarbyne) complex. A siloxycarbyne/CO
species undergoes C–O bond cleavage at lower temperatures,
indicating that monosilylation, and a more electron-rich Mo center,
favors deoxygenative pathways. From the bis(siloxycarbyne), isotopic
labeling experiments and kinetics are consistent with a mechanism
involving unimolecular silyl loss or C–O cleavage as rate-determining
steps toward carbide formation. Reduction of Mo(IV) CO adducts of
carbide and silylcarbyne species allowed for the spectroscopic detection
of reduced silylcarbyne/CO and mixed silylcarbyne/siloxycarbyne complexes,
respectively. Upon warming, both of these silylcarbynes undergo C–C
bond formation, releasing silylated C2O1 fragments
and demonstrating that the multiple bonded terminal MoC moiety
is an intermediate on the path to deoxygenated, C–C coupled
products. The electronic structures of Mo carbide and carbyne species
were investigated quantum mechanically. Overall, the present studies
establish the elementary reactions steps by which CO is cleaved and
coupled at a single metal site.