Remarkably inert metal-alkyl linkages in alkyl dioxo complexes of molybdenum and tungsten

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00098a033

Protonic acids such as H₂O₂(aq) or HCl in Et₂O transform one of the M=O linkages and not the M-C σ bonds of Cp′M(O)₂R complexes [Cp′ = Cp (η⁵-C₅H₅) or Cp* (η⁵-C₅Me₅); M = Mo or W; R = CH₂SiMe₃ or Me]. The respective oxo peroxo and oxo dichloro product complexes Cp′M(O)(η²-O₂)R and Cp*W(O)(Cl)₂R are isolabte in good yields as air-stable crystalline solids that have been fully characterized by conventional methods, including a single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis of CpW(O)(η²-O₂)(CH₂SiMe₃).