Motional heterogeneity in single-site silica-supported species revealed by deuteron NMR.

The molecular dynamics of [-SiDMe(2)] grafted on two amorphous silica materials, mesoporous SBA and non-porous Aerosil, was investigated by deuteron ((2)H) solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Quadrupole echo (QE), quadrupole Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (QCPMG) and magic angle spinning (MAS) spectra were recorded as a function of temperature. These were analyzed to determine the rates and trajectories of molecular motion of the surface species.

Metal fragment isomerisation upon grafting a d(2) ML4 perhydrocarbyl Os complex on a silica surface: origin and consequence.

Grafting of Os bisalkylidene complexes, [Os(=CHtBu)(2)(CH(2)tBu)(2)], on a silica partially dehydroxylated at 700 degrees C selectively yields an alkylidyne complex [([triple bond]SiO)Os([triple bond]CtBu)(CH(2)tBu)(2)] according to mass balance analysis, IR and solid state NMR spectroscopies, but 70% of the silanols remains unreacted. Grafting corresponds to a replacement of one alkyl by a siloxy ligand and induces the isomerisation of the metal fragment from a bis-alkylidene to an alkyl alkylidyne. Molecular (B3PW91) and periodic DFT-calculations show that the bis-alkylidene is the energetically favoured isomer for the perhydrocarbyl complex, while the alkyl alkylidyne isomer is more stable when one of the alkyl ligands is replaced by a siloxy ligand.

Well-defined silica-supported Mo-alkylidene catalyst precursors containing one or substituent: methods of preparation and structure-reactivity relationship in alkene metathesis.

The monosiloxy surface complexes [([triple bond]SiO)Mo([triple bond]NAr)(=CHCMe(2)R')(OR)] (R' = Me or Ph; OR = OtBu, OCMe(CF(3))(2) or OAr) are obtained by grafting onto SiO(2-(700)) either symmetric Mo-alkylidene derivatives [Mo([triple bond]NAr)(=CHCMe(2)R')(OR)(2)] or asymmetric derivatives, that is, with two different pendant ligands, one amido and one alkoxy/aryloxy, [Mo([triple bond]NAr)(=CHCMe(2)R')(OR)(NC(6)H(8))]. The formation of these complexes was confirmed by mass-balance analysis, and infrared (IR) and NMR spectroscopies. These systems are highly efficient catalyst precursors for the metathesis of acyclic alkenes; the best results were seen when OR=OCMe(CF(3))(2).

Direct observation of reaction intermediates for a well defined heterogeneous alkene metathesis catalyst.

Grafting of [W([triple bond]NAr)(=CHtBu)(2,5-Me(2)NC(4)H(2))(2)] on a silica partially dehydroxylated at 700 degrees C (SiO(2- (700))) generates the corresponding monosiloxy complex [([triple bond]SiO)W([triple bond]NAr)(=CHtBu)(2,5-Me(2)NC(4)H(2))] as the major species (approximately 90%) along with [([triple bond]SiO)W([triple bond]NAr)(CH(2)tBu)(2,5-Me(2)NC(4)H(2))(2)], according to mass balance analysis, IR, and NMR studies. This heterogeneous catalyst displays good activity and stability in the metathesis of propene. Very importantly, solid state NMR spectroscopy allows observation of the propagating alkylidene as well as stable metallacyclobutane intermediates.

Dramatic enhancement of the alkene metathesis activity of Mo imido alkylidene complexes upon replacement of one tBuO by a surface siloxy ligand.

[(triple bond SiO)Mo(triple bond NAr)(=CHCMe2R)(OtBu)], a well-defined silica supported alkene metathesis catalyst precursor, shows a dramatic enhancement of activity and selectivity compared to [Mo(triple bond NAr)(=CHCMe2R)(OtBu)2] and [(triple bond SiO)Mo(triple bond NAr)(=CHCMe2R)(CH2tBu)], respectively.