Synthesis of Methylidene Complexes that Contain a 2,6-Dimesitylphenylimido Ligand and Ethenolysis of 2,3-Dicarbomethoxynorbornadiene

Monoalkoxide pyrrolide (MAP) complexes that contain a 2,6-dimesitylphenylimido (NAr*) ligand react with ethylene to yield unsubstituted metallacyclobutanes that are in equilibrium with methylidene complexes, W(NAr*)(CH 2 )(Me 2 Pyr)(OR) (R = t -Bu, OCMe(CF 3 ) 2, SiPh 3, or 2,6-Me 2 C 6 H 3 ). Polymerization of 2,3-dicarbomethoxynorbornadiene (DCMNBD) with M═CHCMe 2 Ph (M = Mo or W) initiators is slow as a consequence of a slow propagation step. However, W(NAr*)(CH 2 )(Me 2 Pyr)(OR) (R = SiPh 3 or 2,6-dimethylphenyl) complexes react readily with 1 equiv of DCMNBD to give a monoinsertion product. The facile reaction between the monoinsertion product and ethylene then allows these complexes to be catalyts for the ring-opening cross-metathesis (ethenolysis) of DCMNBD and DCMNBE (2,3-dicarbomethoxynorbornene) with minimal formation of polymer.