Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Imine Metathesis

Mixtures of ( n -Pr)N CHPh ( 3 ) and PhN CH( t -Bu) ( 4 ) undergo catalytic metathesis in the presence of 4 mol % of (DME)Cl 2 Mo( NR) 2 (R = t -Bu ( 1a ), 2,6-diisopropylphenyl ( 2 )) at 85−90 °C in C 6 D 6 to form 1:1:1:1 equilibrium mixtures with PhN CHPh ( 5 ) and ( n - Pr ) N CH( t -Bu) ( 6 ).