Reactions of M(N-2,6-i Pr2C6H3)(CHR) (CH2R′)2 (M = Mo, W) complexes with alcohols to give olefin metathesis catalysts of the type M(N-2,6-i-Pr2C 6H3)(CHR)(CH2R′)(OR″)

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om050978a

The reaction between M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH₂-t-Bu)₂ (M = Mo, W, Ar = 2,6-i-Pr₂C₆H₃) and various alcohols (1-adamantyl-OH, t-BuOH, ArOH, (CF₃)₂CHOH, (CF ₃)₂MeCOH, CF₃Me₂COH, (CF ₃)₃COH, C₆F₅OH) in pentane or toluene yields either complexes of the type M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH ₂-t-Bu)(OR), through direct addition of ROH across a Mo-C bond, or complexes of the type M(NAr)(CH₂-t-Bu)₃-(OR), through direct addition of ROH across a Mo=C bond. The trineopentyl species appear to be formed when the alcohol has a relatively low pK_a value. The outcome also can depend on whether the alcohol is employed neat or in benzene, and mixtures are observed in some circumstances. The conversion of M(NAr)(CH ₂-t-Bu)₃(OR) into M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH₂-t-Bu)(OR) was shown to be unimolecular in several examples. Preliminary experiments have shown that M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH₂-t-Bu)(OR) complexes are surprisingly active catalysts for various metathesis reactions, although conversion is sometimes limited by decomposition of intermediate alkylidenes to yield dimeric species that contain M=M bonds. In contrast, M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH ₂-t-Bu)₂ species are virtually inactive for metathesis. X-ray structures are reported for Mo(NAr)(CH₂-t-Bu) ₃(OC₆F₅), Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH ₂-t-Bu)[OSi(O-t-Bu)₃], [Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)-(CH ₂-t-Bu)(OC₆F₅)]₂, and Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH₂-t-Bu)(OC₆F₅)(PMe ₃).

Full text of DOI:10.1021/om050978a

1
412
Organometallics 2006, 25, 1412-1423
Reactions of M(N-2,6-i-Pr C H )(CHR)(CH R′) (M ) Mo, W)
2
6
3
2
2
Complexes with Alcohols To Give Olefin Metathesis Catalysts of the
Type M(N-2,6-i-Pr C H )(CHR)(CH R′)(OR′′)
2
6
3
2
Amritanshu Sinha, Lourdes Pia H. Lopez, Richard R. Schrock,* Adam S. Hock, and
Peter M u¨ ller
Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
ReceiVed NoVember 14, 2005
The reaction between M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
alcohols (1-adamantyl-OH, t-BuOH, ArOH, (CF
OH) in pentane or toluene yields either complexes of the type M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
2
through direct addition of ROH across a Mo-C bond, or complexes of the type M(NAr)(CH
(
2
-t-Bu)
2
(M ) Mo, W, Ar ) 2,6-i-Pr
2
C
6
H
3
) and various
COH, (CF COH,
-t-Bu)(OR),
-t-Bu)
OR), through direct addition of ROH across a ModC bond. The trineopentyl species appear to be formed
3
)
2
CHOH, (CF
3
)
2
MeCOH, CF Me
3
2
3 3
)
C
6
F
5
2
3
-
a
when the alcohol has a relatively low pK value. The outcome also can depend on whether the alcohol
is employed neat or in benzene, and mixtures are observed in some circumstances. The conversion of
M(NAr)(CH -t-Bu) (OR) into M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)(OR) was shown to be unimolecular in several
examples. Preliminary experiments have shown that M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)(OR) complexes are
2
3
2
2
surprisingly active catalysts for various metathesis reactions, although conversion is sometimes limited
by decomposition of intermediate alkylidenes to yield dimeric species that contain MdM bonds. In contrast,
M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
for Mo(NAr)(CH -t-Bu)
CH -t-Bu)(OC )] , and Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
2
-t-Bu)
2
species are virtually inactive for metathesis. X-ray structures are reported
), Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)[OSi(O-t-Bu) ], [Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)-
-t-Bu)(OC )(PMe ).
2
3
(OC
6
F
5
2
3
(
2
6
F
5
2
2
6
F
5
3
Introduction
We have been interested in olefin metathesis by imido
alkylidene complexes of Mo and W, most recently asymmetric
metathesis reactions catalyzed by complexes of the type Mo-
bimolecular (in metal) decomposition at relatively low temper-
atures.
In two preliminary communications we showed that addition
of alcohols to M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 did not lead to bis-
7
,8
1
(
alkoxide) species but to M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR)
(
NR)(CHR′)(diolate) (R′ ) CMe3, CMe2Ph) that contain an
9,10
species. Only one example of a complex of this general type
2
enantiomerically pure biphenolate or binaphtholate ligand. As
the number of catalyst variations increases, it would be highly
desirable to prepare catalysts through protonation of two
monoanionic ligands in an imido alkylidene precursor with an
alcohol. Catalysts then could be prepared and evaluated in situ,
a possibility that would create opportunities for rapid throughput
or combinatorial screening of catalysts for activity, selectivity,
enantioselectivity, etc., if other products that might be formed
in such reactions are catalytically inactive. For this reason we
began to explore reactions between alcohols and dineopentyl
imido alkylidene species of the type M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-
t-Bu)2 (M ) Mo, W, Ar ) 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3), in the hope that 2
equiv of neopentane would be lost and M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(OR)2
species generated. This particular precursor also could be added
to a silica surface (SisurfOH) in order to create a relatively well-
1
1
had been reported (prepared through addition of Ph3SiOH to
Mo(N-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2), although it was not char-
acterized and its olefin metathesis activity was not explored.
On the basis of what we know about 1-adamantylimido bis-
12,13
(alkoxide) complexes,
and the fact that Mo(NAd)(CH-t-Bu)-
(
CH2-t-Bu)2 is unstable with respect to bimolecular decompo-
1
4
sition to yield di-tert-butylethylene, we suspect that the tert-
butylimido ligand is “too small” to prevent bimolecular
decomposition of Mo(N-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OSiPh3) and
formation of products that prevent crystallization of these already
highly soluble compounds. In this paper we present the full
details of the reactions between M(NAr)(CHR)(CH2R′)2 (M )
Mo, W; R, R′ ) CMe3, CMe2Ph) and selected alcohols. Some
M(NAr)(CHR′)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) complexes decompose in a
3
defined surface-supported catalyst. Related reactions involving
(6) Edwards, D. S.; Biondi, L. V.; Ziller, J. W.; Churchill, M. R.; Schrock,
4
5
Ta(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)3, W(C-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)3, and Re(C-
R. R. Organometallics 1983, 2, 1505.
6
t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 have been employed for this
purpose so far. It has been believed that the lifetime of surface-
(7) Chabanas, M.; Cop e´ ret, C.; Basset, J.-M. Chem. Eur. J. 2003, 9, 971.
(8) LeRoux, E.; Taoufik, M.; Chabanas, M.; Alcor, D.; Baudouin, A.;
Cop e´ ret, C.; Thivolle-Cazat, J.; Basset, J.-M.; Lesage, A.; Hediger, S.;
Emsley, L. Organometallics 2005, 24, 4274.
3
supported species would be greater than the lifetime of
analogous species in solution as a consequence of slow
(9) Sinha, A.; Schrock, R. R. Organometallics 2004, 23, 1643.
(10) Lopez, L. P. H.; Schrock, R. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 9526.
(
1) Schrock, R. R. Chem. ReV. 2002, 102, 145.
(11) Ehrenfeld, D.; Kress, J.; Moore, B. D.; Osborn, J. A.; Schoettel, G.
J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1987, 129.
(2) Schrock, R. R.; Hoveyda, A. H. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2003, 42,
4
592.
3) Cop e´ ret, C.; Chabanas, M.; Saint-Arroman, R. P.; Basset, J.-M.
Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2003, 42, 156.
(12) Alexander, J. B.; Schrock, R. R.; Davis, W. M.; Hultzsch, K. C.;
Hoveyda, A. H.; Houser, J. H. Organometallics 2000, 19, 3700.
(13) Tsang, W. C. P.; Jernelius, J. A.; Cortez, A. G.; Weatherhead, G.
S.; Schrock, R. R.; Hoveyda, A. H. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 2591.
(14) Pilyugina, T. S.; Schrock, R. R.; Hock, A. S.; M u¨ ller, P. Organo-
metallics 2005, 24, 1929.
(
(
4) Schrock, R. R.; Fellmann, J. D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1978, 100, 3359.
5) Schrock, R. R.; Clark, D. N.; Sancho, J.; Wengrovius, J. H.; Rocklage,
(
S. M.; Pedersen, S. F. Organometallics 1982, 1, 1645.
1
0.1021/om050978a CCC: $33.50 © 2006 American Chemical Society
Publication on Web 02/16/2006

Olefin Metathesis Catalysts
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006 1413
Table 1. Relevant Proton and Carbon NMR Data for
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)(X) Compounds Reported in
2
of the decomposition product or products is (are) not known.
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 also has been prepared in 90%
yield through addition of neopentyllithium to Mo(NAr)Np3Cl
This Paper
1
4
W δ(HR)
(JHW, Hz)
W δ(CR)
(JCH, Hz)
at -30 °C.
X
Mo δ(HR)
Mo δ(CR)
It is straightforward to prepare “mixed” alkyl/alkylidene
compounds such as Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)(CH2-t-Bu)2 (1b)
through alkylation of Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)(triflate)2(dme) with
neopentyl Grignard reagent and Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2CMe2-
Ph)2 (1c) through alkylation of Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(triflate)2-
CH2-t-Bu
Cl
9.50
255.0
6.74 (15)
8.83 (16)
247.2 (102)
261.0 (114)
253.11 (110)
253.6 (106)
256.0 (109)
259.2 (115)
a
11.71
c
OAd
11.71
11.63
275.7
275.9
8.86 (15)
OCMe3
ORF3
ORF6
OCH(CF3)2
ORF9
OAr
OC6F5
8.80 (14)
8.88 (16)
9.00 (15)
11.90
11.80
12.21
11.99
12.07
283.6
284.5
(dme) with neophyl Grignard reagent. There is no evidence for
b
8.96 (15)
c
263.3 (107)c
255.1 (116)
260.5 (105)
intramolecular R-proton migration that would lead to alkyl/
alkylidene scrambling in any of these species in solution at room
temperature. This type of intramolecular transfer or migration
of an R-hydrogen from an alkyl R-carbon to an alkylidene
R-carbon is known to be slow in all high-oxidation-state systems
9.39 (15)
9.37 (16)
9.29 (15)
277.7
286.5
(
OC6F5)(PMe3) 13.3 (anti) 309.7 (anti)
10.8 (syn) 278.7 (syn)
a
See ref 14. b Prepared in situ. c See ref 10.
1
,17,18
so far where it has been tested.
There is also no evidence
that alkyl or alkylidene ligands transfer readily between metals.
bimolecular fashion to yield species that contain a MdM bond
that is not bridged by imido or alkoxide groups that are present.
These and other types of MdM species will be reported
elsewhere. It should be noted that N-2,6-diisopropylphenyl
10
Reactions between 1a and the alcohols shown in eq 1 (Ad )
1
2
-adamantyl) in benzene or toluene (22 °C, 0.1-0.2 M, up to
4 h reaction time) give isolable complexes of the type Mo-
(
NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) (2a-d), which we will call the
(NAr) ligands are the most sterically demanding of the imido
type B product. The product of a reaction between 1a and (t-
ligands available in compounds of this type today; three other
imido ligands that have been reported in Mo(NR)(CHR′)(OR′′)2
compounds (inter alia) are N-2,6-dimethylphenyl, N-2,6-dichlo-
rophenyl, and N-1-adamantyl.2 Reactions analogous to those
discussed here have not yet been carried out with complexes
that contain these “smaller” imido ligands. Steric properties are
so important that similar results could not be guaranteed, nor
even expected.
,15
Results
Syntheses of Molybdenum Complexes. Addition of 2 equiv
of neopentylmagnesium chloride in ether to Mo(NAr)(CH-t-
16
Bu)(triflate)2(dme) (Ar ) 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3, dme ) 1,2-dimethoxy-
ethane) in ether gives red-orange Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-
Bu)2 (1a) in 93% isolated yield. Highly soluble 1a can be
prepared on a large scale and used in “crude” form for further
reactions if pure Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(triflate)2(dme) and ac-
curately titrated Me3CCH2MgCl are employed. NMR spectra
of 1a in C6D6 show resonances for HR at 9.50 ppm and for CR
at 255.0 ppm (JCH ) 108 Hz) for the alkylidene ligand and at
BuO)3SiOH is also an isolable, crystalline species that has been
2
0
reported elsewhere. We can confirm that AdOH or t-BuOH
adds across a Mo-C bond directly, since addition of ROH to
1b gives Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) exclusively.
In contrast, the reaction between 1a and C6F5OH in benzene-
d6 or neat (CF3)2CHOH at 22 °C gives the trineopentyl species
3e or 3a shown in eq 2 rapidly (minutes) and exclusively. We
2
.76 and 0.62 ppm (δ(CH2); JHH ) 12 Hz) for the diastereotopic
methylene protons in the neopentyl ligands. The neopentylidene
chemical shifts are what one might expect for a high-oxidation-
state syn alkylidene complex1
,17,18
and should be compared to
δ(HR) 9.22 ppm and δ(CR) 249.3 ppm (JCH ) 106 Hz) in Mo-
N-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)211 and δ(HR) 6.74 ppm, δ(CR)
47.2 ppm (JCH ) 102 Hz), and δ(CH2) 2.72 and 0.41 ppm in
(
2
19
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2. No alkylidene resonance for
the anti isomer of Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 could be
found. Relevant proton and carbon NMR data for all compounds
reported here are given in Table 1. Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-
t-Bu)2 is relatively stable thermally. When a toluene solution is
heated to 60 °C, 24% decomposition is observed after 1 day,
46% after 3 days, and 100% decomposition in 6 days. The nature
(
15) Schrock, R. R. In Handbook of Metathesis; Grubbs, R. H., Ed.;
Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, Germany, 2003; Vol. 1, p 8.
16) Schrock, R. R.; Murdzek, J. S.; Bazan, G. C.; Robbins, J.; DiMare,
M.; O’Regan, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112, 3875.
(
(
(
17) Feldman, J.; Schrock, R. R. Prog. Inorg. Chem. 1991, 39, 1.
18) Schrock, R. R. In Reactions of Coordinated Ligands; Braterman,
P. R., Ed.; Plenum: New York, 1986.
19) Schrock, R. R.; DePue, R. T.; Feldman, J.; Yap, K. B.; Yang, D.
will call the trineopentyl species the type A product. (The results
(
C.; Davis, W. M.; Park, L. Y.; DiMare, M.; Schofield, M.; Anhaus, J.;
Walborsky, E.; Evitt, E.; Kr u¨ ger, C.; Betz, P. Organometallics 1990, 9,
(20) Blanc, F.; Cop e´ ret, C.; Thivolle-Cazat, J.; Basset, J.-M.; Sinha, A.;
2
262.
Schrock, R. R. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed., in press.

1
414 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006
Sinha et al.
of alcohol addition are summarized in Table 2.) When solutions
of 3e or 3a are heated to 60 °C over a period of hours,
neopentane evolves smoothly to yield Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-
t-Bu)(OR) species (OR ) OC6F5 (2e), OCH(CF3)2 (2a))
quantitatively. The conversion of 3e to 2e was shown to be
Table 2. Formation of Complexes of the Types
M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)(OR) (B) and
M(NAr)(CH -t-Bu) (OR) (A)
2
2
3
1-23
ROH
pKa in H2O2
Mo
W
Me COH
1-adamantanol
Me2(CF3)COH
,6-i-Pr2C6H3OH
Me(CF3)2COH
CF3)2CHOH
(CF3)3COH
C6F5OH
3
19.2
18
12.6
11
9.8
9.3
5.4
5.5
B
B
B
B
B
B
-
4 -1
unimolecular with k ) 1.0 × 10
All rate constants for reactions of this type are gathered in Table
.) Addition of C6F5OH to Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)(CH2-t-Bu)2
s
in benzene-d6 at 60 °C.
(
3
2
B
B
B
yields Mo(NAr)(CH2CMe2Ph)(CH2-t-Bu)2(OC6F5), which upon
heating is transformed into a mixture of the expected three
compounds (approximately 1:1:1) shown in eq 3, along with
neopentane and tert-butylbenzene.
A or Ba
(
A + B
A
A
A + B
A
a Neat only.
Table 3. Rate Constants (10- s-1) for Conversion of
5
2 3 2
M(NAr)(CH -t-Bu) X into M(NAr)(CH -t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)X in
C
6
D
6
at 60 °C (Except Where Noted)
Mo
W
M(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3Cl
M(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3(ORF9)
3014
72
11
17
43 (tol-d8 at 80 °C)
M(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3(OC6F5)
10
7.0
solution showed two new alkylidene resonances at 13.3 and 10.8
ppm in approximately a 1:1 ratio. On the basis of the chemical
shift and coupling constant values, the resonance at 13.3 ppm
(
JCH ) 136.1 Hz) is assigned to the anti base adduct, while
that at 10.8 ppm (JCH ) 107.7 Hz) is assigned to the syn base
adduct. The 13.3 ppm resonance is a doublet due to splitting
by P ( JHP ) 3.5 Hz). The P NMR spectrum shows two
resonances at -10.9 and -14.9 ppm that correspond to the
phosphines in anti and syn base adducts. In the C NMR
2
5
When (CF3)3COH is added to 1a in benzene-d6, both Mo-
31
3
31
(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)[OC(CF3)3] (2f) and Mo(NAr)(CH2-
t-Bu)3[OC(CF3)3] (3f) are formed in a ratio of 1:1.2, while the
reaction between Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 and neat
13
spectrum in toluene, the alkylidene carbon resonance for the
anti base adduct appears at 309.7 ppm and for the syn base
adduct at 278.7 ppm. The anti to syn ratio does not change over
a period of 3 days. When only 0.5 equiv of PMe3 was added to
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OC6F5) in benzene, a sharp anti
base adduct resonance was observed along with a broad
alkylidene proton resonance for the syn adduct and the base-
free species at room temperature. Apparently trimethylphosphine
is lost more readily from the syn adduct than from the anti
adduct. A weaker coordination of a base to a syn isomer is a
common finding for bis(alkoxide) imido alkylidene com-
(
<
CF3)3COH affords a mixture which contains >95% 3f and
5% 2f. Compound 3f is converted into 2f at 60 °C in benzene-
-
4
-1
d6 with a rate constant of 7.2 × 10
s
(Table 3). Since the
pKa's of HOC(CF3)3 and HOC6F5 in water are similar (5.4 and
21-23
5
.5, respectively),
these results demonstrate once again that
R-hydrogen abstraction is accelerated in the electronically
similar but sterically more crowded circumstance.1
,17,18
If (CF3)3-
COH is added to Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)(CH2-t-Bu)2 in benzene-
d6, the alkylidene that is formed initially (∼50% of the mixture)
is only Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)(CH2-t-Bu)[OC(CF3)3], thus con-
firming that in this case also a Mo-C bond is cleaved directly
in competition with addition of (CF3)3COH to the ModC bond
to give Mo(NAr)(CH2CMe2Ph)(CH2-t-Bu)2[OC(CF3)3]. When
Mo(NAr)(CH2CMe2Ph)(CH2-t-Bu)2[OC(CF3)3] decomposes, it
yields all possible alkylidenes analogous to those shown in eq
2,15,17,18
plexes.
The ready loss of trimethylphosphine from the
syn isomer suggests that the constant ratio of anti to syn adducts
is the result of ready equilibration of the two through loss of
phosphine.
When Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OAr) is treated with 1
equiv of ROH (OR ) OCMe3, OAd, OC6F5), a mixture
containing both Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OAr) and Mo-
3
in approximately a 1:1:1 ratio.
The complexes Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) (OR )
OAd, OCMe3, OAr) are relatively stable thermally. For example,
when a 0.04 M solution of these complexes in toluene is heated
at 60 °C for 11 days, less than 0.5% decomposition is observed.
However, under identical conditions, Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-
t-Bu)(OC6F5) shows 54% decomposition in 11 days. The results
of thermal decompositions of M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR)
and related alkylidene complexes that lead to species that contain
a MdM bond (M ) Mo, W ) will be reported elsewhere.
Addition of 1.1 equiv of PMe3 to Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-
t-Bu)(OC6F5) in benzene resulted in total disappearance of the
parent alkylidene resonance. A proton NMR spectrum of the
(
NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) (and the expected alcohols) is
obtained (eq 4). On the basis of the structure obtained for Mo-
24
(
(
(
21) Timperleya, C. M.; White, W. E. J. Fluorine Chem. 2003, 123, 65.
22) Willis, C. J. Coord. Chem. ReV. 1988, 88, 133.
23) Patai, S., Ed. The Chemistry of the Hydroxyl Group; Wiley: New
York, 1971.
(24) Lopez, L. P. H.; Schrock, R. R.; M u¨ ller, P. Submitted for publication
(25) Schrock, R. R.; Crowe, W. E.; Bazan, G. C.; DiMare, M.; O’Regan,
in Organometallics.
M. B.; Schofield, M. H. Organometallics 1991, 10, 1832.

Olefin Metathesis Catalysts
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006 1415
Scheme 1. Mechanism of Alkoxide Exchange at the Metal
(
NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OC6F5)(PMe3) (vide infra), we be-
X-ray Structures. The structure of Mo(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3-
(OC6F5) is shown in Figure 1. Crystallographic details are given
in Table 4 and selected distances and angles in Table 5. Mo-
(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3(OC6F5) is a pseudo trigonal bipyramid with
the imido and phenoxide ligands in the axial positions. The three
equatorial neopentyl ligands are approximately 120° apart. All
Mo-ligand distances are normal. The Mo-N-C(21) bond
angle is 169.9(3)°, but the Mo-O-C(11) bond angle (163.0-
(3)°) seems large for a phenoxide. It is not clear whether steric
factors or π bonding from oxygen to Mo, or both, are responsible
for the large Mo-O-C(11) angle. The Mo-C(31)-C(32),
Mo-C(41)-C(42), and Mo-C(51)-C(52) angles are all near
120°, with no evidence of an R agostic CH interaction with the
metal in preparation for R-hydrogen abstraction. Almost cer-
tainly, this TBP species rearranges into another in order that
neopentane can be lost and Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)-
(OC6F5) generated. In the species from which neopentane is
lost, one neopentyl ligand must be in a relatively more crowded
environment, with another neopentyl ligand approximately 90°
to it that behaves as the leaving group.
lieve that the donor, in this case ROH, initially approaches the
electrophilic metal center trans to the alkyl group: i.e., on the
Cene/N/O face (Scheme 1). The proton in theory could then
migrate to the imido nitrogen, the alkylidene R-carbon atom,
or the alkoxide oxygen. Reaction of Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)-
(CH2CMe3)2 with ArOH in benzene-d6 gave Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2-
Ph)(CH2CMe3)(OAr) in situ, which upon treatment with 1 equiv
of Me3COH produced a mixture that contained Mo(NAr)-
(CHCMe2Ph)(CH2CMe3)(OCMe3) and Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)-
(
CH2CMe3)(OAr) exclusively (along with ArOH and tert-butyl
alcohol). If the proton were to migrate to the alkylidene R-carbon
to give Mo(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)2(OR)(OAr), that species either
would be relatively stable toward loss of neopentane (W(NAr)-
19
(
O-t-Bu)2(CH2-t-Bu)2 is known ) or would lose neopentane
to yield Mo(NAr)(CHR′)(OR)(OAr), in which R′ would most
likely be either t-Bu or CMe2Ph. Migration of the proton to the
imido group at a rate that is faster than migration to the alkoxide
cannot be ruled out, although migration to the imido R-nitrogen
would have to be readily reversible. (Proton migration to the
imido group to give an amido complex has not been observed
for NAr ) N-2,6-diisopropylphenyl).26 Rearrangement of the
new five-coordinate species containing ArOH (Scheme 1), e.g.,
via a turnstile mechanism, would yield a ArOH adduct of the
same type that was formed initially (or its enantiomer), from
which ArOH would be lost to generate the new monoalkoxide
species. (As we will show in the X-ray section below, the
structure of Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OC6F5)(PMe3) is
highly distorted from any ideal; thus, a discussion of exchange
in terms of ideal structures, rearrangements, etc. may not be
valid.) The fact that even relatively acidic C6F5OH simply
exchanges with OAr on the metal suggests that these catalysts
may be “stable” in the presence of an alcohol functionality, at
least if any mono(alkoxide) alkylidene that results from reaction
with any alcohol in the system is itself reactive toward olefins.
When a 0.05 M solution Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)-
The structure of Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)[OSi(O-t-
20
Bu)3] (Tables 4 and 6; Figure 2) is typical of pseudotetrahedral
1
,17
species of this type. The structure shows extensive disorder,
in which only the Mo atom is not involved. (See the Experi-
mental Section for a discussion of the disorder.) Only the major
component of the disorder is shown in Figure 2, although both
sets of selected bond lengths and angles are listed in Table 6.
The neopentylidene ligand in each molecule has a syn orienta-
tion in which the tert-butyl group points toward the imido
nitrogen. The Mo-C(1) bond lengths (1.831(3) and 1.860(6)
Å) and Mo-C(1)-C(2) bond angles (146.5(4) and 151.5(8)°)
are typical for syn isomers. The neopentyl ligands appear to be
normal, with Mo-C(6) distances of 2.144(5) and 2.259(6) Å
and Mo-C(6)-C(7) angles of 118.1(5) and 116.6(6)°. Perhaps
the largest differences between the two molecules are the Mo-
(
OC6F5) in benzene-d6 was treated with 1 equiv of C6F5OH and
the mixture was heated to 70 °C, what appears to be Mo(NAr)-
CH2-t-Bu)(OC6F5)3 (according to its proton NMR spectrum)
is formed, along with unreacted Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)-
OC6F5). When 2 equiv of C6F5OH was employed in a similar
(
(
experiment, Mo(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)(OC6F5)3 was then formed in
good yield. Therefore, we suspect that under forcing conditions,
at least with a relatively small and acidic alcohol, Mo(NAr)-
(CH-t-Bu)(OC6F5)2 is formed either directly (through addition
of C6F5OH to Mo-C) or indirectly (through addition of C6F5-
OH to ModC followed by R abstraction) and that Mo(NAr)-
(
(
CH-t-Bu)(OC6F5)2 reacts with C6F5OH rapidly to yield Mo-
NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)(OC6F5)3.
(
26) Schrock, R. R.; Jamieson, J. Y.; Araujo, J. P.; Bonitatebus, P. J. J.;
Figure 1. Thermal ellipsoid drawing of Mo(NAr)(CH
(OC ).
2 3
-t-Bu) -
Sinha, A.; Lopez, L. P. H. J. Organomet. Chem. 2003, 684, 56.
6 5
F

1
416 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006
Sinha et al.
Table 4. Crystal Data and Structure Refinement Details for Mo(NAr)(CH
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)[OSi(O-t-Bu) ], [Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)(OC
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
2
-t-Bu)
3
(OC
F )] , and
6 5
F ),
2
3
2
6 5 2
a
2
6 5 3
-t-Bu)(OC F )(PMe )
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)-
(CH2-t-Bu)[OSi(O-
t-Bu)3]
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)-
(CH2-t-Bu)(OC6F5)-
(PMe3)
Mo(NAr)(CH2-t-
Bu)3(OC6F5)
[Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)-
(CH2-t-Bu)(OC6F5)]2
identification code
empirical formula
formula wt
temp (K)
03254
C33H50F5MoNO
667.68
05165
C34H65MoNO4Si
675.90
04051
04088
C31H47F5MoNOP
671.61
C56H76F10Mo2N2O2
1191.07
194(2)
193(2)
100(2)
194(2)
cryst syst
space group
unit cell dimens
a (Å)
b (Å)
c (Å)
monoclinic
P21/n
triclinic
P1h
triclinic
P1h
monoclinic
P21/n
10.2823(7)
17.4374(11)
18.7360(12)
90
92.240(2)
90
3356.7(4)
4
1.321
9.7654(5)
11.0135(14)
11.2803(14)
13.7273(17)
106.623(2)
98.447(2)
111.854(2)
1453.8(3)
1
11.0422(6)
17.2364(9)
18.4223(9)
90
105.176(2)
90
3484.0(3)
4
1.318
11.4342(5)
18.8010(8)
97.7880(10)
97.465(2)
108.6840(10)
1936.44(15)
2
R (deg)
â (deg)
γ (deg)
3
V (Å )
Z
3
calcd density (Mg/m )
1.159
0.402
1.360
0.503
-
1
abs coeff (mm
)
0.443
0.485
F(000)
1400
728
616
1400
3
cryst size (mm )
θ range (deg)
index ranges
0.26 × 0.21 × 0.16
1.60-27.48
-12 e h e 12
0.20 × 0.20 × 0.07
1.11-29.13
-13 e h e 13
-15 e k e 15
-25 e l e 25
42 470
0.20 × 0.16 × 0.12
1.62-28.26
-13 e h e 14
-14 e k e 12
-14 e l e 18
9217
0.16 × 0.13 × 0.13
1.65-25.68
-13 e h e 12
-20 e k e 12
-21 e l e 21
20 039
-
20 e k e 20
22 e l e 12
-
no. of rflns collected
20 925
no. of indep rflns (R(int))
completeness to θ ) 29.13° (%)
abs cor
7666 (0.0689)
99.5
semiempirical
0.9325 and 0.8934
7666/19/401
1.122
10 424 (0.0283)
99.8
semiempirical
0.9724 and 0.9239
10 424/1389/750
1.106
6454 (0.0211)
89.6
semiempirical
0.9421 and 0.9061
6454/3/344
1.062
6423 (0.0466)
99.9
semiempirical
0.9396 and 0.9264
6423/126/416
1.042
max and min transmission
no. of data/restraints/params
2
goodness of fit on F
final R indices (I > 2σ(I))
R1
0.0722
0.1211
0.0442
0.1133
0.0471
0.1215
0.0575
0.1535
wR2
R indices (all data)
R1
0.1122
0.0485
0.0521
0.0703
wR2
0.1318
0.732 and -1.285
0.1165
1.642 and -0.559
0.1264
1.965 and -0.807
0.1630
1.667 and -0.809
largest diff peak and hole (e Å-3)
a
In all cases the wavelength was 0.710 73 Å and the refinement method was full-matrix least squares on F2.
Table 5. Selected Bond Lengths (Å) and Angles (deg) for
Table 6. Selected Bond Lengths (Å) and Angles (deg) for
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)[OSi(O-t-Bu)
Mo(NAr)(CH
2
-t-Bu)
3 6
(OC F
5
)
2
3
]
Mo-N(1)
Mo-O(1)
Mo-C(31)
1.747(3)
2.006(2)
2.145(4)
Mo-C(41)
Mo-C(51)
2.140(4)
2.126(4)
molecule 1
molecule 2
Mo-N(1)
1.725(5)
1.831(3)
1.973(3)
2.144(5)
106.8(4)
125.1(4)
103.1(4)
109.13(13)
98.11(17)
111.15(17)
118.1(5)
158.5(9)
146.5(4)
134.5(2)
1.753(11)
1.860(6)
1.842(4)
2.259(6)
109.5(8)
126.3(8)
98.1(8)
Mo-C(1)
Mo-O(1)
Mo-C(6)
N(1)-Mo-O(1)
N(1)-Mo-C(31)
N(1)-Mo-C(41)
N(1)-Mo-C(51)
O(1)-Mo-C(31)
O(1)-Mo-C(41)
O(1)-Mo-C(51)
C(41)-Mo-C(31)
174.34(14)
89.92(16)
92.87(16)
94.68(16)
84.51(14)
90.91(14)
87.36(14)
121.37(17)
C(51)-Mo-C(31)
C(51)-Mo-C(41)
Mo-N(1)-C(21)
Mo-O(1)-C(11)
Mo-C(31)-C(32)
Mo-C(41)-C(42)
Mo-C(51)-C(52)
Mo-O-C(11)
121.33(16)
116.75(17)
169.9(3)
163.0(2)
121.3(3)
126.1(3)
121.5(3)
162.9(2)
N(1)-Mo-C(1)
N(1)-Mo-O(1)
N(1)-Mo-C(6)
C(1)-Mo-O(1)
C(1)-Mo-C(6)
O(1)-Mo-C(6)
C(7)-C(6)-Mo
Mo-N(1)-C(11)
Mo-C(1)-C(2)
Mo-O(1)-Si(1)
114.3(3)
92.7(3)
109.0(2)
116.6(6)
165.4(18)
151.5(8)
148.8(3)
O(1)-Si(1) angles of 134.5(2) and 148.8(3)°. We ascribe these
variations to subtle differences in steric crowding in the two
molecules.
27
such species have been elucidated recently. The neopentylidene
has the syn orientation with normal bond lengths and angles
Mo-C(1) ) 1.912(3) Å and Mo-C(1)-C(2) ) 143.9(2)°).
The imido ligand is normal. This is a rare example of a dimeric
form of a pseudotetrahedral high-oxidation-state imido alky-
lidene species, although other species that contain a relatively
small alkoxide and a neopentylidene or neophylidene ligand
almost certainly could form analogous dimeric species in the
An X-ray study of [Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OC6F5)]2
shows it to be a centrosymmetric dimeric species in which the
phenoxide unsymmetrically bridges two metals (Tables 4 and
(
7
; Figure 3). Each phenoxide is covalently bound to one metal
and behaves as a donor toward the other. The donor interaction
takes place roughly trans to the alkylidene ligand (C(1)-Mo-
O(1A) ) 158.76(10)°) at a typical distance (Mo-O(1A) )
2
.3509(19) Å). Formation of an adduct in which the base is
trans to the alkylidene ligand has been observed in various base
adducts through NMR spectroscopy,25 although structures of
(
27) Schrock, R. R.; Gabert, A. J.; Singh, R.; Hock, A. S. Organome-
tallics 2005, 24, 5058.

Olefin Metathesis Catalysts
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006 1417
Table 8. Selected Bond Lengths (Å) and Angles (deg) for
2 6 5 3
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)(OC F )(PMe )
Mo(1)-N(1)
1.737(3)
1.881(8)
1.96(3)
Mo(1)-O(1)
Mo(1)-C(6)
Mo(1)-P(1)
2.051(3)
2.199(4)
2.5680(10)
Mo(1)-C(1)
Mo(1)-C(1A)
N(1)-Mo(1)-C(1)
N(1)-Mo(1)-C(1A)
N(1)-Mo(1)-O(1)
N(1)-Mo(1)-C(6)
N(1)-Mo(1)-P(1)
C(1)-Mo(1)-O(1)
C(1)-Mo(1)-C(1A)
C(1A)-Mo(1)-O(1) 128.7(6)
C(1)-Mo(1)-C(6) 101.0(3)
C(1A)-Mo(1)-C(6) 107.0(7)
113.0(3)
93.5(6)
C(1)-Mo(1)-P(1)
C(1A)-Mo(1)-P(1)
93.8(3)
93.8(7)
134.93(15) O(1)-Mo(1)-C(6)
102.37(13) O(1)-Mo(1)-P(1)
90.34(10) C(2)-Mo(1)-P(1)
110.0(3)
19.6(6)
81.76(13)
73.84(9)
154.63(11)
162.5(3)
141.7(3)
126.1(3)
149.6(7)
Mo(1)-N(1)-C(17)
Mo(1)-O(1)-C(11)
Mo(1)-C(6)-C(7)
Mo(1)-C(1)-C(2)
Mo(1)-C(1A)-C(2A) 134(2)
to the neopentyl ligand (C(6)-Mo(1)-P(1) ) 154.63(11)°); the
neopentylidene, imido, and alkoxide ligands are all located in
“equatorial” positions. The alkylidene ligand was found in two
orientations (syn and anti) in a ratio of ∼70:30, a circumstance
not encountered in compounds of this type before. This disorder
was refined with the help of restraints on the thermal parameters
while setting the total occupancy to unity. The hydrogen atom
on the major isomer was located in the difference map and
refined using distance restraints. The H atom on the minor
isomer was included on its geometrically calculated position
and refined using a riding model. None of the bond lengths
and angles is unusual, with one exception: The Mo(1)-P(1)
bond length (2.5680(11) Å) is relatively long, which suggests
that trimethylphosphine is relatively weakly bound and should
be relatively labile, as found experimentally. In the syn form
2
Figure 2. Thermal ellipsoid drawing of Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -
t-Bu)[OSi(O-t-Bu) ].
3
Figure 3. Thermal ellipsoid drawing of [Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
t-Bu)(OC )]
2
-
6 5 2
F .
Table 7. Selected Bond Lengths (Å) and Angles (deg) for
[Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
2
-t-Bu)(OC
6
F
5
)]
2
Mo(1)-N(1)
Mo(1)-C(1)
Mo(1)-C(24)
1.727(2)
1.912(3)
2.139(3)
Mo(1)-O(1)
Mo(1)-O(1A)
2.1112(19)
2.3509(19)
C(1)-Mo(1)-O(1)
93.42(11) N(1)-Mo(1)-O(1)
135.69(10)
119.31(16)
98.24(9)
O(1)-Mo(1)-C(24) 114.79(10) C(6)-O(1)-Mo(1A)
N(1)-Mo(1)-C(1)
100.63(12) N(1)-Mo(1)-O(1A)
C(12)-N(1)-Mo(1) 168.2(2)
Mo(1)-O(1)-Mo(1A) 113.89(8)
N(1)-Mo(1)-C(24) 104.00(12) C(1)-Mo(1)-O(1A)
158.76(10)
85.02(10)
66.11(8)
Mo(1)-O(1)-C(6)
C(1)-Mo(1)-C(24)
C(2)-C(1)-Mo(1)
126.71(16) O(1A)-Mo(1)-C(24)
99.69(13) O(1)-Mo(1)-O(1A)
143.9(2)
solid state but simply have not been crystallographically
characterized. “Ate” species are also known when the alkoxide
is small; for example, addition of 3 equiv of LiOCH(CF3)2 to
Mo(NAd)(CHCMe2Ph)(OTf)2(DME)28 (Ad ) 1-adamantyl) in
diethyl ether yields off-white, crystalline, pentane-soluble Li-
(
DME)Mo(NAd)(CHCMe2Ph)[OCH(CF3)2]3.29
The structure of Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OC6F5)-
PMe3) (Tables 4 and 8; Figure 4) is a distorted trigonal
(
bipyramid in which trimethylphosphine is approximately trans
(
28) Oskam, J. H.; Fox, H. H.; Yap, K. B.; McConville, D. H.; O’Dell,
R.; Lichtenstein, B. J.; Schrock, R. R. J. Organomet. Chem. 1993, 459,
85.
29) Schrock, R. R.; Luo, S.; Lee, J. C. J.; Zanetti, N. C.; Davis, W. M.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 3883.
Figure 4. Thermal ellipsoid drawings of (A, top) syn-Mo(NAr)-
1
(
(CH-t-Bu)(CH
2
-t-Bu)(OC
6
5
F )(PMe
3
) and (B, bottom) anti-Mo-
).
(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
2
-t-Bu)(OC
6 5
F )(PMe
3

1
418 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006
Sinha et al.
the Mo-C(1) bond length is 1.881(8) Å and the Mo-C(1)-
C(2) bond angle is 149.6(7)°. In the anti form the Mo-C(1A)
bond length is 1.96(3) Å and the Mo-C(1A)-C(2A) bond angle
is 137(2)°. Each is typical of a syn or anti isomer. The angle
between the two R-carbon atoms in the two neopentylidene
ligands in the two different isomers is 19.6(6)°. Therefore, angles
at Mo for the two isomers differ slightly: e.g., N(1)-Mo-
C(1) ) 113.0(3)° (syn), while N(1)-Mo-C(1A) ) 93.5(6)°
product obtained correlates roughly with the acidity of the
alcohol used and approximately mirrors the results obtained for
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2. Among the alcohols screened
for this reaction, and under the conditions employed, only
(CF3)2CHOH gave a mixture of products A and B.
Heating solutions of W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3OR (OR ) OC-
(CF3)3, OC6F5) at 60 °C in benzene or toluene gave W(NAr)-
(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) species, a process that is analogous
to that shown for the Mo species in eq 2. It should be noted
that W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OC6F5) was obtained in good
yields only by heating dilute solutions (<0.05 M) of W(NAr)-
(CH2-t-Bu)3(OC6F5). Attempts to isolate W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)-
(CH2-t-Bu)(OC6F5) by heating progressively more concentrated
solutions of W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3(OC6F5) gave progressively
higher percentages of [W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)(OC6F5)]2, the bimo-
lecular decomposition product of W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)-
(anti). It is striking that the structures of two species that differ
so little are maintained in solution: i.e., distinct syn and anti
adducts are observed in NMR spectra (vide supra).
Syntheses of Tungsten Complexes. W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-
t-Bu)2 is a known compound that has been synthesized in six
steps from WCl6 (WCl6 f WOCl4 f W(NAr)Cl4(ether) f
W(NAr)(O-t-Bu)2Cl2 f W(NAr)(O-t-Bu)2(CH2-t-Bu)2 f W-
19
(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)Cl2(dme) f W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2).
1
0
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 also may be prepared through
alkylation of W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(OTf)2(dme).19 A third method
of synthesis is to treat W(NAr)Cl4(ether) with 4 equiv of LiCH2-
t-Bu. So far, in our hands W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2
obtained by the third method has been isolated only as a red-
brown oil, even though its proton NMR spectrum showed it to
be essentially pure. Alkylation of W(NAr)Cl4(ether) with 4 equiv
of neopentylmagnesium chloride in ether led to a mixture of
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 and W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3Cl that
could not be separated through recrystallization. However, if
only 3 equiv of neopentylmagnesium chloride in ether are
employed in pentane at -78 °C, then W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3Cl
can be isolated in pure form, but only in 35% yield (eq 5). The
(OC6F5).
Interestingly, heating a solution of W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3Cl
gave W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)Cl, which has been obtained
1
13
only as an oil. Its H and C NMR spectra in C6D6 show a
singlet at 8.83 ppm (JHW ) 16 Hz) and a doublet at 261.0 ppm
(JCH ) 114 Hz, JCW ) 171 Hz), respectively.
With the synthesis of W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3Cl, a third route
to W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) became accessible, e.g.,
the reaction between W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3Cl and a lithium
alkoxide to give W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3(OR) followed by heating
to give W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) (eq 6). In this manner
relatively low yield is largely a consequence of the high
solubility of W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3Cl in common organic solvents,
which thereby complicates its separation from other highly
soluble products of the reaction (e.g. W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-
t-Bu)2). The proton NMR spectrum of W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3Cl
suggests a pseudo-trigonal-bipyramidal structure, with three
equivalent equatorial neopentyl groups, analogous to the
structure of W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3(OC6F5) shown in Figure 1.
Further alkylation of W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3Cl with LiCH2-t-Bu
then gives the desired W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 as a
yellow-orange powder in quantitative yield (eq 5). Despite the
low yield of isolated W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3Cl prepared in this
manner, and therefore the relatively high consumption of the
neopentyl source (neopentyl chloride), this four-step synthesis
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) complexes with OR )
OCMe2CF3, OCMe(CF3)2, OCH(CF3)2, OCMe3 were prepared.
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OCMe3), W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)-
(CH2-t-Bu)(OCMe2CF3), and W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)-
[OCMe(CF3)2] were isolated as yellow powders, while W(NAr)-
(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)[OC(H)(CF3)2] was obtained only as a red
oil. The W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) complexes prepared
using this method are identical in all respects with those of the
samples obtained from the reaction between W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)-
(CH2-t-Bu)2 and ROH.
(WCl6 f WOCl4 f W(NAr)Cl4(ether) f W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3-
Metathesis Activity. We were interested in whether M(NAr)-
(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) species would metathesize olefins.
We now know that many M(NAr)(CHR′)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) spe-
cies that are formed when M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR)
reacts with an internal olefin such as 3-hexene are unstable
toward bimolecular decomposition to yield MdM-bonded
Cl f W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2) is relatively facile; the first
two steps are essentially quantitative and can be carried out on
a large scale. This synthesis is analogous to the reported
synthesis of W(NPh)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 from W(NPh)(CH2-
3
0
t-Bu)3Cl.
1
0
As found for the analogous molybdenum complex, W(NAr)-
CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 reacts with 1 equiv of alcohol in pentane
species in which the neopentyl group is intact. Therefore, we
felt that the neopentyl group should survive at least some
metathesis reactions. Although this initial exploration of me-
tathesis activity is relatively qualitative, it is important to
establish some initial benchmarks.
(
or benzene at room temperature to give two types of products,
W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)3(OR) (type A) and W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-
t-Bu)(OR) (type B). As shown in Table 2, the nature of the
Complexes of the type Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR)
(2b-e) are catalysts for various ring-closing metathesis reac-
(30) Pedersen, S. F.; Schrock, R. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1982, 104, 7483.

Olefin Metathesis Catalysts
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006 1419
tions. Ring-closing of diallyl ether with either 2b or 2c is slow
and incomplete. However, both 2d (OR ) OAr) and 2e (OR )
OC6F5) are relatively efficient, with 92% conversion in 6 min
with 5% loading at 13.6 mM concentration of catalyst in C6D6.
However, 2e appears to be relatively short-lived; a second 20
equiv was not metathesized rapidly when added to the first
reaction mixture. However, when an additional 20 equiv was
added after 15 min to the first reaction mixture involving 5%
Scheme 2. Mechanism of Alcohol Addition to Dineopentyl
Alkylidene Imido Species
2
d, it was converted to product in 91% yield in ∼1 h. Therefore,
2d appears to be the most efficient catalyst for diallyl ether under
these conditions.
Ring-closings of the amine substrates C, D,31 and E32 by 2d
and 2e (3.0-4.2 M (5%) in C6D6) were also fast, being complete
in 5-30 min in C6D6 at room temperature. However, the
respectively. Again, bimolecular decomposition of the inter-
mediate alkylidenes is a likely problem, although that remains
to be proven.
Discussion
The results reported here suggest that alcohols can add cleanly
to M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 and related species (M ) Mo,
W) to yield either M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) or M(N-
Ar)(CH2-t-Bu)3(OR) and that the latter can be transformed into
the former upon heating (Scheme 2). Whether the alcohol adds
to the MdC or M-C bond varies dramatically with the size
and pKa value of the alcohol and the conditions under which
the reaction is run (e.g., in benzene or neat alcohol). In general,
the higher the pKa value of the alcohol, the more readily it adds
to the M-C bond. It is not clear to us why this should be the
case, nor can we assume that the imido group is innocent in
such reactions. This selectivity recently has allowed the synthesis
of well-defined analogues of Mo(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)-
reaction involving substrate E in the case of 2e went to only
85% completion, presumably as a consequence of decomposition
of intermediates.
Similar results were observed with analogous tungsten
catalysts. Only the OC(CF3)3 and OAr catalysts ring-closed
diallyl ether efficiently in 20 min (5 mol % loading) in C6D6
(OR) species on the surface of silica in which the silanols (Sisurf-
OH) are relatively isolated from one another: i.e., Mo(NAr)-
(0.01 M; 5%); the yields are 24% when OR ) OCMe3, 35%
20
(
CH2-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OSisurf). These surface-supported species
for OR ) OCMe2CF3, 57% for OR ) OCMe(CF3)2, 95% for
OR ) OC(CF3)3, 43% for OR ) OC6F5, and 96% for OR )
OAr. W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 is virtually inactive, while
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)Cl (10% loading) yielded only 5%
product in 20 min. The pentafluorophenoxide system again
apparently is highly active, but intermediates also decompose
rapidly in a bimolecular fashion to yield [W(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)-
show olefin metathesis activities that appear to be higher than
those of a homogeneous analogue.
There are some parallels between the reactions reported here
6
and those that involve Re(C-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2. The
reaction between Re(C-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 and a silica
surface produces a Re(C-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OSisurf)
species that has been deduced to form via addition of SisurfOH
to both the Re-C and RedC bonds (followed by rapid R
(
OC6F5)]2,10 according to proton NMR spectra.
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)[OC(CF3)3] and W(NAr)(CH-
3
,34
abstraction under the conditions employed);
no addition of
t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OAr) were employed in ring closings of
substrates C, D, F,33 and G (5% in benzene). The reactions
were >95% complete in 20 min at room temperature. In all
cases an additional 20 equiv of substrate was not metathesized
when added to the first completed reaction, even upon heating.
The same general trend in reactivity was observed for the
metathesis of cis-2-pentene by tungsten catalysts (5 mol % in
benzene). Catalyst activity varied in the order OR ) OAr ≈
OC(CF3)3 > OCMe(CF3)2 > OCMe2CF3 > OCMe3. Using 5
mol % catalyst, equilibrium was achieved within 20 min at room
temperature when OR ) OAr, OC(CF3)3 and 120 min when
OR ) OCMe(CF3)2. Equilibrium was not established within a
period of 1 day at 25 °C using catalysts where OR ) OCMe2-
CF3, OCMe3, only 50% and 30% conversion being observed,
SisurfOH to the neopentylidyne ligand took place. The Re(C-t-
Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OSisurf) species is an active olefin
metathesis catalyst at room temperature. In solution Re(C-t-
Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 was shown to react with Ph3SiOH
over a period of 12 h at room temperature to yield Re(C-t-Bu)-
31
(
CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OSiPh3) as a 10:1 mixture of syn and anti
3
4
-
-
-
isomers. It is also known that HX (X ) C6F5O , CF3SO3 ,
BF4 ) reacts with Re(C-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 rapidly in
-
solution to give Re(C-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)3X species, which upon
subsequent treatment with L (L ) py, CH3CN, CD3OD, THF)
yield neopentane and Re(C-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(L)nX (n
3
5
)
1-3) species.
The preliminary metathesis results by catalysts of this type
are encouraging. It is especially striking to note that M(NAr)-
(
CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 species are virtually inactive for metath-
(
31) Dolman, S. J.; Sattely, E. S.; Hoveyda, A. H.; Schrock, R. R. J.
Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 6991.
32) Dolman, S. J.; Schrock, R. R.; Hoveyda, A. H. Org. Lett. 2003, 5,
899.
33) Alexander, J. B.; La, D. S.; Cefalo, D. R.; Hoveyda, A. H.; Schrock,
R. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 4041.
(
(34) Chabanas, M.; Baudouin, A.; Cop e´ ret, C.; Basset, J.-M.; Lukens,
4
W.; Lesage, A.; Hediger, S.; Emsley, L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125,
492.
(
(35) LaPointe, A. M.; Schrock, R. R. Organometallics 1995, 14, 1875.

1
420 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006
Sinha et al.
esis, while M(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) species can be
highly active (OR ) OAr, OC(CF3)3, OC6F5), although they
also can be short-lived, especially for OR ) OC6F5. Detailed
investigations of the various steps in the metathesis reactions,
as well as the stability of intermediates, clearly must be carried
out in order to establish (inter alia) how stable the intermediate
alkylidenes and metallacyclobutanes are. We already know that
several of these neopentylidene species react readily with
internal olefins to yield homochiral or heterochiral dimeric
species of the type [M(NAr)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR)]2. At this stage we
presume that dimers form through bimolecular decomposition
between the electron-withdrawing ability of the two atoms
attached to the metal and reactivity and that “distorted” and, in
particular, unsymmetric (at the metal) species have shallower
energy surfaces leading to and from a metallacyclobutane
intermediate. This is potentially an important new insight in
olefin metathesis reactions with well-defined species.
Experimental Section
General Considerations. All operations were performed under
a nitrogen atmosphere in the absence of oxygen and moisture in a
Vacuum Atmospheres glovebox or using standard Schlenk proce-
dures. The glassware, including NMR tubes, were flame- and/or
oven-dried prior to use. Ether, pentane, toluene, and benzene were
degassed with dinitrogen and passed through activated alumina
columns. Dimethoxyethane was distilled from a dark purple solution
of sodium benzophenone ketyl and degassed three times by freeze-
1
0
of new and relatively small alkylidenes (e.g., propylidene).
However, we cannot discount at this stage that metallacyclobu-
tane17 rearrangement to an olefin is at least a competitive mode
of “reduction” of the metal. We aim to establish the stability of
metallacyclobutane species in future studies.
Another factor that could prove to be important in the long
run is that most of the (possibly interconverting) metallacy-
clobutane intermediates that one can imagine as intermediates
in these reactions are “electronically” unsymmetric at the
metal: i.e., unsymmetric as a consequence of different elements
being present in R positions, not unsymmetric merely as a con-
sequence of asymmetry in the ligands themselves, as in a chiral
diolate derivative. This stands in contrast to both trigonal-
bipyramidal (TBP) and square-pyramidal (SP) metallacyclobu-
tane complexes derived from bis(alkoxide) species.1 An elec-
tronically unsymmetric metallacyclobutane may more rapidly
eject an olefin than one that is not electronically unsymmetric.
Relevant to the results described here are some recent DFT-
pump-thaw techniques. Dichloromethane was distilled from CaH
under N
Å molecular sieves in a nitrogen-filled glovebox. H, C, and
2
2
. All dried and deoxygenated solvents were stored over 4
1
13
19
F
NMR spectra were acquired at room temperature (unless otherwise
1
13
19
noted) using Varian Mercury ( H, 300 MHz; C, 75 MHz; F,
2
1
13
82 MHz) and Varian Inova ( H, 500 MHz; C, 125 MHz)
spectrometers and referenced to the residual protio solvent reso-
nances or external C (-163.0 ppm). Elemental analyses were
performed by H. Kolbe Mikroanalytisches Laboratorium, M u¨ lheim
6 6
F
2
an der Ruhr, Germany. Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(OTf) (dme) was pre-
7
pared as described in the literature.16 Neopentylmagnesium chloride
and neophylmagnesium chloride were titrated against propanol in
a THF solution using 1,10-phenanthroline as an indicator im-
mediately prior to use. All other chemicals were procured from
(B3PW91) calculations on systems of the type Re(C-t-Bu)(CH-
commercial sources and used as received. W(NAr)Cl
W(NAr)(CH -t-Bu) (OC ), W(NAr)(CH -t-Bu) Cl, W(NAr)(CH-
t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu) , W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)[OC(CF ], and
-t-Bu)(OAd) were prepared as described in
4 2
(Et O),
t-Bu)(X)(Y), which are isoelectronic with Mo(NAr)(CH-t-
2
3
F
6 5
2
3
36
Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OR) species when X ) alkyl and Y ) alkoxide.
2
2
2
3 3
)
A key step in the reaction of Re(CR)(CHR′)(alkyl)(alkoxide)
species with an olefin is a distortion toward a trigonal monopy-
ramid in which the alkyl ligand is in the axial position. This
distortion prepares the metal for a weak interaction with an
olefin (see H, where the incoming olefin is ethylene), and facile
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
the literature.1
2
0,19
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu) (1a). A solution (23.5 mL) of
2
2
1.85 M neopentylmagnesium chloride solution in ether was added
dropwise to a prechilled solution of 15.88 g (21.76 mmol) of Mo-
2
(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(OTf) (dme) in 270 mL of ether. The color changed
from yellow to deep red-orange as a precipitate formed. The mixture
was stirred for 12 h, ether was removed in vacuo, and the residue
was extracted with pentane. The pentane extract was filtered through
Celite, and the pentane was removed in vacuo to afford 9.75 g of
a red powder (93% yield) that was pure enough for further
reactions: 1H NMR (C
D
) δ 9.50 (s, 1, CHCMe
6
6
3
7
1
0
.05 (br s, 3, Ar H), 3.99 (sept, 2, CHMe
2
), 2.76 (d, 2, CHHCMe
2
.30 (d, 12, CHMe ), 1.22 (s, 18, CH
2
CMe
3
), 1.17 (s, 9, CHCMe
formation of a heavily distorted TBP metallacyclobutane
intermediate with an “axial” alkylidyne and “axial” alkoxide.
When both X and Y are alkoxides, then the barrier for addition
of the olefin and conversion to the metallacycle is higher by
several kilocalories. When both X and Y are alkyls, the barrier
is higher still. These calculations help explain why addition of
Re(C-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)2 to silica(700) yielded a well-
defined Re(C-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OSisurf) species, which
has an unusually high metathesis activity,7 while homogeneous
Re(C-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(OR)2 species are relatively poor metath-
13
3 6 6 3
.62 (d, 2, CHHCMe ); C NMR (C D ) δ 255.0 (CHCMe ), 154.2
(Cipso), 144.8 (Cortho), 127.2 (Cpara), 123.5 (Cmeta), 77.9 (CH CMe ),
2
3
47.1 (CHCMe ), 34.8 (CH CMe ), 34.1 (CH CMe ), 32.7 (CHC-
3
2
3
2
3
3 2 2
Me ), 29.2 (CHMe ), 24.9 (CHMe ). Anal. Calcd for C27H49NMo:
C, 67.05; H, 10.21; N, 2.90; Mo, 19.84. Found: C, 66.79; H, 10.08;
N, 3.18; Mo, 20.04.
2 2 2
Mo(NAr)(CHCMe Ph)(CH -t-Bu) (1b). A 4.27 mmol reaction
was carried out in a manner virtually identical with that above for
,37
1
1 to give 1.52 g (65%) of the product as a red-orange powder:
H
NMR (C ) δ 9.69 (s, 1, CHCMe Ph), 7.44 (d, 2, CHCMe Ph),
D
6 6
2
2
38,39
7.16 (m, 2, CHCMe Ph), 7.05 (br s, 3, Ar H), 3.97 (sept, 2, CHMe ),
esis catalysts.
Although bimolecular decomposition reactions
2
2
2
.71 (d, 2, CHHCMe
3
), 1.54 (s, 6, CHCMe
CMe
6
) δ 252.8, 154.2, 149.5, 145.0, 128.7, 127.4, 126.6, 126.5,
2
Ph), 1.26 (d, 12,
), 0.74 (d, 2, CHHCMe ); C NMR
3 3
are essentially eliminated on the surface at the mild temperatures
employed, it seems plausible that there is not a linear relationship
13
CHMe
2
), 1.14 (s, 18, CH
2
(C
6
D
1
C
23.6, 78.3, 52.9, 34.5, 33.9, 32.1, 28.8, 24.5. Anal. Calcd for
(
36) Solans-Monfort, X.; Clot, E.; Cop e´ ret, C.; Eisenstein, O. J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 14015.
37) Chabanas, M.; Baudouin, A.; Cop e´ ret, C.; Basset, J. M. J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 2001, 123, 2062.
32
H51NMo: C, 70.43; H, 9.42; N, 2.57. Found: C, 70.25; H, 9.27;
(
N, 2.56.
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
obtained as a deep red oil from the reaction between Mo(NAr)-
(CH-t-Bu)(OTf) (dme) and neophylmagnesium chloride in a pro-
2 2 2
CMe Ph) (1c). This complex was
(
(
38) Toreki, R.; Schrock, R. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112, 2448.
39) Toreki, R.; Vaughan, G. A.; Schrock, R. R.; Davis, W. M. J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 1993, 115, 127.
2

Olefin Metathesis Catalysts
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006 1421
33.9, 32.2, 30.0, 28.4, 24.7, 24.0, 23.2. Anal. Calcd for C34
cedure analogous to the preparation of 1a: 1H NMR (C
D
) δ
6
6
55
H -
8
.85 (s, 1, CHCMe
3
), 7.38-7.16 (overlapping resonances, 10,
NOMo: C, 69.24; H, 9.40; N, 2.37. Found: C, 69.26; H, 9.29; N,
2.32.
CHCMe
2
Ph), 7.07 (br s, 3, Ar H), 4.00 (sept, 2, CHMe
2
), 2.65 (d,
Ph), 1.44-0.99 (33, CHCMe , CH CMe ),
Ph); 13C NMR (C
D ) δ 259.4, 154.2, 152.8,
6 6
2
0
1
3
, CHHCMe
.63 (d, 2, CHHCMe
49.7, 145.1, 129.1, 127.3, 126.6, 126.4, 123.7, 77.1, 46.6, 40.6,
4.7, 34.1, 32.9, 32.1, 31.8, 29.6, 28.6, 24.6, 24.1.
2
2
Ph, CHMe
2
2
3
2 6 5
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)(OC F ) (2e). A solution of Mo-
2
(
NAr)(CH -t-Bu) (OC ) (1.4 g, 2.10 mmol) in 11 mL of toluene
6 5
F
2
3
was stirred and heated at 60 °C for 8 h in a heavy-walled pressure
vessel. The light yellow color of the solution darkened. Toluene
was removed in vacuo to leave an orange-yellow solid. Washing
this solid with cold pentane over a fine-porosity frit gave 1.01 g
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
-propanol (97 µl, 0.91 mmol, 2.2 equiv) was added to a solution
-t-Bu) in 5 mL
of toluene. The reaction mixture was stirred for 16 h and stored at
2 3 2
-t-Bu)[OCH(CF ) ] (2a). Perfluoro-
2
(81%) of a pale yellow powder: 1H NMR (C
CHCMe
2.61 (d, 1, CHHCMe
(d, 12, CHMe ), 1.22 (s, 9, CH
NMR (C ) δ 286.5, 153.3, 146.5, 123.8, 60.4, 48.2, 33.6, 32.8,
31.2, 30.7, 29.9, 24.5, 23.8; F NMR (C
) δ 12.07 (s, 1,
, JCH ) 116 Hz)), 6.99 (m, 3, Ar H), 3.75 (sept, 2, CHMe ),
, JCH ) 13 Hz), 2.22 (d, 1, CHHCMe ), 1.24
CMe ), 1.08 (s, 9, CHCMe
of 200 mg (0.41 mmol) of Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
2
2
6 6
D
3
2
1
-
20 °C to afford red-orange crystals in 52% yield (124 mg):
NMR (C ) δ 11.80 (s, 1, CHCMe , JCH ) 116 Hz), 6.99 (m, 3,
Ar H), 4.55 (sept, 1, (CF CHO), 3.73 (sept, 2, CHMe ), 2.42 (d,
, CHHCMe , JCH ) 13 Hz), 2.16 (d, 1, CHHCMe ), 1.27 (d, 6,
CHMe ), 1.24 (d, 6, CHMe ), 1.18 (s, 9, CH CMe ), 1.11 (s, 9,
CHCMe ) δ 284.5, 153.2, 146.5, 123.7, 58.7,
8.1, 33.7, 32.7, 31.9, 31.4, 30.5, 28.4, 24.6, 23.8; F NMR (C
δ -74.97 (CF ), -75.17 (CF ). Anal. Calcd for C25
C, 51.81; H, 6.78; N, 2.42. Found: C, 51.64; H, 6.79; N, 2.36.
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)(OAd) (2b). Mo(NAr)(CH-t-
Bu)(CH -t-Bu) (520 mg, 1.07 mmol) was placed in a 25 mL
H
3
3
1
3
D
6
3
2
2
3
3
); C
6
3
)
2
2
6 6
D
19
1
3
3
6
D
6
) δ -160.83 (d, 2),
-165.07 (t, 2), -169.83 (t, 1). Anal. Calcd for C28H38NOF Mo:
5
2
2
2
3
13
); C NMR (C
7
D
8
C, 56.47; H, 6.43; N, 2.35. Found: C, 56.28; H, 6.28; N, 2.40.
3
19
4
6 6
D )
Mo(NAr)(CH -t-Bu) [OCH(CF ) ] (3a). A few drops of neat
2
3
3 2
3
3
6
H39NOF Mo:
3 2
(CF ) CHOH were added to 20 mg (0.04 mmol) of Mo(NAr)(CH-
t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu) ; a yellow suspension formed immediately. The
2
2
reaction mixture was stirred for 10 min and the excess alcohol
2
1
removed in vacuo to yield the product quantitatively: H NMR
2
2
scintillation vial, and 1-adamantanol (163 mg, 1.07 mmol) and 6
mL of pentane were added. The reaction mixture was stirred
overnight at room temperature. Removing the volatiles in vacuo
(C
2, CHMe
27, CH CMe
6
D
6
) δ 6.98 (m, 3, Ar H), 5.22 (sept, 1, (CF
), 2.51 (s, 6, CH CMe ), 1.24 (d, 12, CHMe
); C NMR (C ) δ 146.4, 124.6, 123.7, 82.9, 58.6,
3
)
2
CHO), 4.06 (sept,
2
2
3
2
), 1.13 (s,
13
2
3
6 6
D
afforded an orange-yellow powder that could be washed with cold
47.9, 37.1, 33.7, 31.9, 31.3, 30.4, 29.7, 25.6, 24.6, 23.8.
1
pentane to obtain a fine yellow powder, yield 502 mg (83%):
NMR (C ) δ 11.71 (s, 1, CHCMe
, Ar H), 3.99 (sept, 2, CHMe ), 2.38 (d, 1, CHHCMe
Hz), 2.12 (d, 1, CHHCMe ), 2.05 (br s, 3, CH), 1.92 (m, 6, CH
.51 (s, 6, CH ), 1.29 (m, 30, CHMe
NMR (C
6.7, 34.5, 32.2, 31.9, 29.2, 24.9, 24.1. Anal. Calcd for C32
NOMo: C, 68.18; H, 9.48; N, 2.48. Found: C, 68.03; H, 9.32; N,
.55.
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
Bu)(CH -t-Bu) (1 g, 2.07 mmol) was placed in a 100 mL heavy-
H
Mo(NAr)(CH -t-Bu) (OC F ) (3e). Pentafluorophenol (761 mg,
2
3
6 5
D
6 6
3
, JCH ) 115 Hz), 7.07 (br s,
4.14 mmol) was added all at once to a solution of Mo(NAr)(CH-
3
2
3
, JCH ) 13
t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu) (2 g, 4.14 mmol) in 10 mL of pentane. Stirring
2
2
3
2
3
),
C
the reaction mixture for 6 h and removing the volatile components
in vacuo afforded an orange-brown solid, which was washed with
cold pentane to get a bright yellow solid (1.80 g, 66%). Alterna-
tively, the orange-brown solid can be dissolved in a minimum
amount of pentane and the solution stored at -20 °C for 24 h to
1
1
2
2
, CH
2
CMe
3
, CHCMe
3
);
6 6
D ) δ 275.7, 153.2, 145.3, 126.6, 123.6, 79.0, 52.7, 46.7,
3
53
H -
1
2
afford a yellow crystalline material in 75% yield: H NMR (C D )
6
6
2 3
-t-Bu)(OCMe ) (2c). Mo(NAr)(CH-t-
δ 6.99 (br s, 3, Ar H), 4.14 (sept, 2, CHMe
CMe ), 1.28 (d, 12, CHMe ), 1.14 (s, 27, CH
(C ) δ 150.5, 128.7, 124.9, 123.8, 84.5, 36.9, 33.7, 31.9, 29.9,
28.9, 25.7, 24.5, 23.7; F NMR (C
(t, 2), -171.94 (t, 1). Anal. Calcd for C33
2
), 2.73 (s, 6, CH
CMe ); C NMR
2 3
2
-
1
3
2
2
3
2
walled pressure vessel along with a magnetic stirrer, and 1.1 equiv
of t-BuOH (169 mg, 2.28 mmol) and 10 mL of toluene were added
to it. Stirring the reaction mixture at 80 °C for 2 h caused the color
of the solution to change from red to dark yellow-orange. Removing
toluene in vacuo resulted in a dark orange oil that was dissolved in
a minimum amount of pentane and stored at -20 °C to give 0.97
6 6
D
19
6 6
D
) δ -157.39 (d, 2), -165.53
Mo: C, 59.36;
H
50NOF
5
H, 7.55; N, 2.10; Mo, 14.37; F, 14.23. Found C, 59.40; H, 7.42;
N, 2.12; Mo, 14.40; F, 14.16.
Mo(NAr)(CH -t-Bu) [OC(CF ) ] (3f). Neat (CF ) COH was
2
3
3 3
3 3
g (96%) of a yellow-brown powder: 1H NMR (C
6 6
D ) δ 11.63 (s,
2 2
added to 20 mg (0.04 mmol) of Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu) to
1
, CHCMe
3
, JCH ) 115 Hz), 7.05 (br s, 3, Ar H), 3.96 (sept, 2,
obtain a yellow-orange suspension immediately. Stirring the reaction
mixture for 10 min and removing the excess alcohol yielded a
yellow-orange solid almost quantitatively that contains <5% of
2f: 1H NMR (C D ) δ 7.03 (m, 3, Ar H), 4.21 (sept, 1, CHMe ),
CHMe
CHHCMe
2
), 2.38 (d, 1, CHHCMe
3
, JCH ) 13 Hz), 2.09 (d, 1,
), 1.26 (s, 9,
): δ 275.9, 153.1,
45.3, 126.6, 123.5, 79.8, 52.7, 46.7, 34.5, 32.9, 32.2, 29.2, 24.9,
4.1. Anal. Calcd for C26 47NOMo: C, 64.31; H, 9.76; N, 2.88.
3 3 2
), 1.35 (s, 9, OCMe ), 1.29 (d, 12, CHMe
13
CH CMe ), 1.21 (s, 9, CHCMe ); C NMR (C D
1
2
2
3
3 6 6
6
6
2
2 3 2 2 3
2.84 (s, 6, CH CMe ), 1.35 (d, 12, CHMe ), 1.24 (s, 27, CH CMe );
13
H
6 6
C NMR (C D ): δ 151.2, 150.3, 128.7, 125.1, 83.9, 37.9, 33.8,
Found: C, 64.38; H, 9.69; N, 2.81.
31.1, 28.7, 25.5. 22.9.
Alternatively, when a pentane solution of 1a and 1.1 equiv of
t-BuOH is stirred for 12 h, the product is obtained quantitatively
as an orange powder.
Conversion of Mo(NAr)(CH -t-Bu) [OCH(CF ) ] (3a) into
2
3
3 2
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)[OCH(CF ) ] (2a). Mo(NAr)(CH -
2
3 2
2
t-Bu) [OCH(CF ) ] (20 mg) was dissolved in 0.6 mL of C D in a
3
3 2
6
6
J. Young NMR tube to give a yellow solution. Heating the tube to
0 °C overnight resulted in darkening of the color of the solution.
The H NMR spectrum showed that 3a had been converted
quantitatively into 2a.
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
2
-t-Bu)(OAr) (2d). To Mo(NAr)(CH-
6
t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu) (500 mg, 1.03 mmol) in 5 mL of pentane was
2
2
1
added 210 µL (203 mg, 1.13 mmol) of 2,6-diisopropylphenol, and
the reaction mixture was stirred for 12 h at room temperature. After
the solvent was removed, a red waxy material was obtained. This
waxy material was dissolved in a minimum amount of pentane,
and the solution was stored at -20 °C; a red-orange solid (575
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
t-Bu) (OC ) (200 mg, 0.34 mmol) was taken up in 2 mL of
pentane, and 5 equiv of PMe (174 µL, 1.68 mmol) was added to
2 6 5 3 2
-t-Bu)(OC F )(PMe ). Mo(NAr)(CH -
3
6 5
F
3
mg) was filtered off (95% yield): 1H NMR (C
CHCMe
D
6 6
) δ 11.99 (s, 1,
, JCH ) 116 Hz), 7.07 (d, 2, Ar H), 7.00 (t, 1, Ar H), 6.97
br s, 3, Ar H), 3.55 (sept, 4, CHMe ), 2.72 (d, 1, CHHCMe
), 1.34-1.13 (overlapping signals,
it via a microsyringe. Stirring for 2 h afforded a green suspension,
from which volatiles were removed in vacuo to obtain a lime-lemon
(green-yellow) solid in almost quantitative yield. Recrystallization
3
(
)
4
2
3
, JCH
13 Hz), 2.35 (d, 1, CHHCMe
, CH CMe , CHCMe
59.1, 153.4, 145.6, 137.2, 127.3, 123.8, 123.5, 122.4, 59.5, 47.7,
3
in a minimum amount of pentane at -20 °C overnight afforded
13
1
2, CHMe
2
2
3
3
); C NMR (C
6
D
6
): δ 277.7,
yellow crystals in 72% yield (162 mg): H NMR (C
6
D
6
) δ 13.3
3
1
(d, JCH ) 136.1 Hz, JHP ) 3.5 Hz, 1, anti-CHCMe
3
), 10.8 (s, JCH

1
422 Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006
Sinha et al.
)
107.7 Hz, 1, syn-CHCMe
3
); 13C NMR (toluene-d
8
) δ 309.7,
24.01. Anal. Calcd for C26
H
47NOW: C, 54.45; H, 8.26; N, 2.44.
2
78.7; 31P NMR (C
6
D
6
) δ -10.9, -14.9.
Conversion of Mo(NAr)(CH -t-Bu) [OC(CF
NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)[OC(CF ] (2f). A yellow solution was
obtained when 20 mg of 3f was dissolved in 0.6 mL of C in a
J. Young NMR tube. Heating the tube to 60 °C overnight produced
Found: C, 54.36, H, 8.18, N, 2.41.
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)[OCMe
6 6
obtained as a yellow powder in quantitative yield: H NMR (C D ,
3 3
) ] (3f) into Mo-
2
2 3
(CF )]. The product was
2
3
1
(
2
)
3 3
D
6
500 MHz) δ 8.88 (s, 1, JHW ) 16 Hz), 7.17 (d, 2), 7.13 (t, 1), 3.89
6
(m, 2), 2.59 (d, 1, JHH ) 15 Hz), 2.19 (d, 1, JHH ) 15 Hz), 1.43 (s,
1
19
a darker solution whose H NMR spectrum (C
with the formation of 2f: δ 12.21 (s, 1, CHCMe
.98 (m, 3, Ar H), 3.71 (sept, 2, CHMe ), 2.54 (d, 1, CHHCMe
CH ) 13 Hz), 2.18 (d, 1, CHHCMe ), 1.21 (d, 6, CHMe ), 1.24
d, 6, CHMe ), 1.15 (s, 9, CH CMe ), 1.07 (s, 9, CHCMe ).
General Method Employed for Metathesis Reactions. In all
reactions involving diallyl ether, a ∼0.3 M solution of diallyl ether
in C and 10 µL of anisole (an internal standard) were placed in
D
6 6
) was consistent
3), 1.40 (s, 3), 1.35 (d, 6), 1.34 (d, 6), 1.26 (s, 9), 1.25 (s, 9);
F
NMR (C
D
6 6
) -82.1 (s); 13C NMR (C
6 6
D ) δ 256.05 (JCH ) 109
3
, JCH ) 116 Hz),
6
J
(
2
3
,
Hz, JCW ) 180 Hz), 152.64, 144.80, 128.68, 126.40, 126.13, 123.40,
81.91, 58.79 (JCW ) 122 Hz), 46.17, 34.81, 34.33, 33.42, 32.55,
3
2
28.95, 26.78, 25.56, 25.14, 24.74, 23.89. Anal. Calcd for C26
NOW: C, 49.77; H, 7.07; N, 2.23. Found: C, 49.62, H, 7.16, N,
.27.
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
6
obtained as a yellow powder in quantitative yield: H NMR (C D ,
44 3
H F -
2
2
3
3
2
2
3 2
-t-Bu)[OCMe(CF ) ]. The product was
6 6
D
1
a J. Young NMR tube and 5 mol % of the catalyst was then added.
The tube was capped, and the solution was allowed to stand at
room temperature. In other cases, 10 mg of the substrate was taken
up in 0.5 mL of C
Conversions were determined by H NMR spectroscopy (500 MHz).
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)(OC ). A solution of 2.00 g of
W(NAr)(CH -t-Bu) (OC
6
5
00 MHz) δ 9.00 (s, 1, JHW ) 15 Hz), 7.08 (d, 2), 7.05 (t, 1), 3.75
(m, 2), 2.59 (d, 1, JHH ) 15 Hz), 2.16 (d, 1, JHH ) 15 Hz), 1.46 (s,
19
6 6
3), 1.28 (d, 6), 1.25 (d, 6), 1.16 (s, 9), 1.13 (s, 9); F NMR (C D )
6 6
D followed by addition of 5 mol % of catalyst.
13
1
δ -77.3 (q, 3) and -77.9 (q, 3); C NMR (C D ) δ 259.15 (J
6
6
CH
)
115 Hz, JCW ) 180 Hz), 152.42, 145.23, 128.69, 127.05, 125.39,
23.50, 61.17 (JCW ) 123 Hz), 46.61, 34.80, 34.07, 33.07, 32.81,
9.05, 24.85, 23.81, 19.86. Anal. Calcd for C26 NOW: C,
5.83; H, 6.06; N, 2.06. Found: C, 46.04, H, 6.15, N, 2.18.
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)[OC(H)(CF ]. The product was
obtained as a red oil in quantitative yield: 1H NMR (C
) δ 8.96
2
6 5
F
1
2
4
2
3
F
6 5
) in ∼150 mL of benzene was heated
41 6
H F
at 60 °C for 12 h. After this time, the solution was concentrated to
dryness. The product was then taken up in pentane and the solution
filtered. Removal of volatiles in vacuo from the filtrate gave a
yellow powder, which was collected on a frit, washed with cold
pentane, and dried in vacuo to give 1.5 g (88% yield) of the
2
3 2
)
6 6
D
(
s, 1, JHW ) 15 Hz), 7.05 (m, 3), 4.50 (m, 1), 3.70 (m, 2), 2.58 (d,
HH ) 15 Hz), 2.13 (d, 1, JHH ) 15 Hz), 1.28 (d, 6), 1.26 (d, 6),
.14 (s, 9), 1.12 (s, 9); 19F NMR (C
D ) δ -74.0 (q, 3) and -74.3
6 6
product: 1H NMR (C
6 6
D
1, J
1
(q, 3).
) δ 9.29 (s, 1, JHW ) 15 Hz), 7.10 (m, 3),
.76 (m, 2), 2.80 (d, 1, JHH ) 15 Hz), 2.34 (d, 1, JHH ) 15 Hz),
.28 (d, 6), 1.26 (d, 6), 1.21 (s, 9), 1.14 (s, 9); F NMR (C
3
1
19
6
D
6
) δ
) δ
13
2
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)(OAr). The product was obtained
-
160.0 (d, 2), -164.2 (t, 2), -167.3 (td, 1); C NMR (C
6
D
6
as a yellow-orange powder: 1H NMR (C
D
6
, 500 MHz) δ 9.37 (s,
, JHW ) 15 Hz), 7.06 (d, 2), 7.02 (t, 1), 6.97 (m, 3), 3.58 (m, 2),
.52 (m, 2), 2.96 (d, 1), 2.31 (d, 1), 1.34 (s, 9), 1.30 (s, 9), 1.26 (d,
), 1.21 (d, 6), 1.20 (d, 6), 1.03 (d, 6); 13C NMR (C
) δ 255.15
2
1
3
60.5 (JCH ) 105 Hz, JCW ) 178 Hz), 152.5, 145.8, 145.2, 141.4,
6
1
3
6
(
1
39.5, 137.4, 135.3, 127.3, 123.5, 61.8 (JCW ) 123 Hz), 46.8, 34.0,
2.9, 29.6, 24.4, 23.7. Anal. Calcd for WNOC28H F : C, 49.21;
38 5
6 6
D
H, 5.60; N, 2.05. Found: C, 49.09, H, 5.51, N, 1.97.
JCH ) 116 Hz), 158.44, 152.83, 150.80, 144.46, 137.52, 134.13,
26.33, 124.16, 123.82, 123.34, 123.21, 121.47, 117.91, 62.12 (JCW
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)Cl. W(NAr)(CH -t-Bu) Cl (500
2
2
3
mg, 0.822 mmol) was dissolved in a minimum amount of benzene
and heated at 60 °C for 8 h. The volatiles were then removed in
vacuo to give a red oil which was pure by NMR: H NMR (toluene-
)
123), 46.60, 34.13, 33.90, 29.68, 29.31, 25.56, 24.50, 23.10. Anal.
Calcd for C35 59NOW: C, 60.60; H, 8.57; N, 2.02. Found: C,
0.48, H, 8.51, N, 2.04.
X-ray Structures. Low-temperature diffraction data were col-
1
H
6
d
2
1
8
, 500 MHz) δ 8.83 (s, 1, JHW ) 16 Hz), 7.05 (m, 3), 3.74 (m, 2),
.84 (d, 1, JHH ) 15 Hz), 1.87 (d, 1, JHH ) 15 Hz), 1.26 (d, 6),
.24 (d, 6), 1.19 (s, 9), 1.09 (s, 9); C NMR (C
13
lected on a Siemens Platform three-circle diffractometer coupled
to a Bruker-AXS Smart Apex CCD detector with graphite-
monochromated Mo KR radiation (λ ) 0.710 73 Å), performing
æ- and ω-scans. All structures were solved by direct methods using
6
D
6
) δ 261.0 (JCH
114 Hz, JCW ) 171 Hz), 145.05, 127.55, 123.43, 71.84 (t) (JCW
117 Hz), 62.33, 47.32, 35.04, 33.90, 32.75, 29.35, 24.26, 23.98.
38Cl: C, 49.31; H, 7.15; Cl, 6.62; N, 2.61.
)
)
Anal. Calcd for WNC22
Found: C, 49.24, H, 7.09, Cl, 6.71; N, 2.68.
H
40
2
SHELXS and refined against F on all data by full-matrix least
squares with SHELXL-97.4 All non-hydrogen atoms were refined
anisotropically. All hydrogen atoms (except the hydrogen atoms
on carbon that binds directly to molybdenum in the structures of
1
Representative Procedure for the Reaction between W(NAr)-
(
CH-t-Bu)(CH
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
was added to a solution of W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
2
-t-Bu)
2
and ROH To Give the Corresponding
-t-Bu)(OR). One equivalent of the alcohol
-t-Bu) in
2
Mo(NAr)(CH
2
-t-Bu)
3
(OC
6
F
5
), Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
2 6 5
-t-Bu)(OC F ),
2
2
and (NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
2
-t-Bu)(OC )(PMe ), which have been
F
6 5
3
pentane, and the resulting mixture was stirred for 8 h at room
temperature. Removal of the solvent in vacuo gave the crude
product, which may be recrystallized from pentane to give the pure
compound.
taken from the difference Fourier synthesis and refined semi-freely
with the help of distance restraints) were included into the model
at geometrically calculated positions and refined using a riding
model. The isotropic displacement parameters of all hydrogen atoms
were fixed to 1.2 times the U value of the atoms they are linked to
Representative Procedure for the Reaction between W(NAr)-
(CH
2
-t-Bu)
3
Cl and LiOR To Give W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
2
-t-
(1.5 times for methyl groups). Details of the data quality and a
Bu)(OR). To a solution of W(NAr)(CH
2
-t-Bu) Cl in benzene was
3
summary of the residual values of the refinements are given in Table
added as a solid 1 equiv of LiOR. The reaction mixture was stirred
and heated at 60 °C overnight as it was being stirred. It was filtered
through a bed of Celite, and the filtrate was concentrated to dryness
to give the desired product.
4.
2 3
The structure of Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)[OSi(O-t-Bu) ]
shows extensive disorder, in which only the Mo atom is not
involved. The NAr ligand displays a 64:36 disorder, corresponding
to an approximate rotation about the Mo-N axis. All other nonmetal
atoms are involved in a 56:44 disorder, also corresponding to an
approximate rotation about the Mo-N axis. It would seem most
W(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
tained as a yellow powder in quantitative yield: H NMR (C
00 MHz) δ 8.80 (s, 1, JHW ) 14 Hz), 7.17 (d, 2), 7.12 (t, 1), 3.95
m, 2), 2.53 (d, 1, JHH ) 15 Hz), 2.16 (d, 1, JHH ) 15 Hz), 1.36 (s,
7), 1.34 (d, 6), 1.28 (d, 6); 13C NMR (C
) δ 253.6 (JCH ) 106
Hz), 152.95, 144.28, 128.68, 125.63, 123.31, 82.10, 56.37 (JCW
22 Hz), 50.07, 45.74, 34.62, 33.81, 32.49, 32.35, 28.85, 24.67,
2 3
-t-Bu)(OCMe ). The product was ob-
1
6
6
D ,
5
(
2
6 6
D
(
40) Sheldrick, G. M. Acta Crystallogr., Sect. A 1990, 46, 467.
)
(41) Sheldrick, G. M. SHELXL-97; Universit a¨ t G o¨ ttingen, G o¨ ttingen,
1
Germany, 1997.

Olefin Metathesis Catalysts
Organometallics, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2006 1423
likely that the nitrogen atom should not be disordered at all.
However, the model improved significantly (both in the geometry
and in the residual factors of the refinement) when the nitrogen
position was split. The Mo atom may also be disordered (relatively
high displacement parameters), but the fact that the two relative
occupancies of the described disorders are refined to significantly
different values speaks against a whole-molecule disorder. Thus,
the Mo atom was refined as not disordered and the two disorders
were treated as independent. They were refined with the help of
similarity restraints on 1-2 and 1-3 distances and displacement
parameters as well as rigid bond restraints for anisotropic displace-
ment parameters. The ratios were refined freely, while the total
occupancy of both components was constrained to unity. The
hydrogen atoms on the carbon atoms that bind directly to the Mo
atom (C1, C1A, C6, and C6A) have all been located in the
difference Fourier synthesis and were refined semi-freely with the
help of distance restraints.
for gifts of metathesis substrates, and the National Science
Foundation (Grant Nos. CHE-9988766 and CHE-0138495) for
supporting this research.
Supporting Information Available: Tables and figures giving
crystal data and structure refinement details, atomic coordinates
and equivalent isotropic displacement parameters, bond lengths and
angles, anisotropic displacement parameters, hydrogen coordinates,
and isotropic displacement parameters and additional views for Mo-
(
NAr)(CH
Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
t-Bu)(CH -t-Bu)(OC )(PMe
3
2
-t-Bu)
3
(OC
6
F
5
), [Mo(NAr)(CH-t-Bu)(CH
-t-Bu)[OSi(O-t-Bu) ], and Mo(NAr)(CH-
). This material is available free of
2 6 5 2
-t-Bu)(OC F )] ,
2
3
2
6
F
5
charge via the Internet at http://pubs.acs.org. Data for the four
structures are also available to the public at http://www.recipro-
calnet.org/. The identification code in Table 4 identifies each
structure at this site.
Acknowledgment. We thank Dr. William M. Davis for
collecting data for 3e, members of the group of A. H. Hoveyda
OM050978A