of the CpRe (CO) 2 (ClCH2Cl) complex followed by insertion of the metal into the C–Cl
bond. The activation enthalpy is determined to be 20.4 kcal/mol, and with the assistance of
DFT calculations, a radical mechanism is proposed for the oxidative addition reaction.
Photolysis of Ni (CO) 2 (PPh3) 2 with dihalomethanes also results in oxidative addition, but
the intermediacy of a halogen-bound adduct has not been established.