A Carbon-13 NMR Spectroscopic Study of a Cr(CO)3-Stabilised Benzyl Anion

13C and1H NMR chemical shift and coupling constant data indicate that the bis(tricarbonylchromium)diphenylmethyl carbanion is stabilised by delocalisation of negative charge onto the carbonyl moieties. In contrast to the analogous cation, there does not appear to be a direct interaction between the chromium and the α-carbon atom.