A Cheap, Efficient, and Environmentally Benign Synthesis of the Versatile Catalyst Methyltrioxorhenium (MTO)

Avoiding toxic starting materials such as (CH3)4Sn, a cheap, environmentally benign high-yield synthesis has been developed for the multitalented catalyst methyltrioxorhenium(VII) (MTO; see picture: black C, white H, blue Re, red O). This novel approach is applicable on a large scale and for several derivatives of MTO, such as ethyltrioxorhenium(VII).