Trityl tetraphenylborate as a reagent in organometallic chemistry

Abstract Trityl tetraphenylborate, prepared from trityl triflate and sodium tetraphenylborate, is shown to be a useful hydride and methyl anion abstraction reagent for organometallic compounds. It reacts with (η5-C5Me5)(PMe3)2RuMe to give the fulvene complex [η4-C5Me4CH2)(PMe3)2RuMe]BPh4, and with (η5-C5H5)2ZrMe2 in acetonitrile-d3 to afford the cationic methyl derivative [(η5-C5H5)2ZrMe(NCCD3)]BPh4.