Activation of Aromatic C-C Bonds of 2,2'-Bipyridine Ligands.

4,4'-Disubstituted-2,2'-bipyridine ligands coordinated to MoII and ReI cationic fragments become dearomatized by an intramolecular nucleophilic attack from a deprotonated N-alkylimidazole ligand in cis disposition. The subsequent protonation of these neutral complexes takes place on a pyridine carbon atom rather than at nitrogen, weakening an aromatic C-C bond and affording a dihydropyridyl moiety. Computational calculations allowed for the rationalization of the formation of the experimentally obtained products over other plausible alternatives.