Air-stable 18-electron adducts of Schrock catalysts with tuned stability constants for spontaneous release of the active species

Abstract

Air-sensitive molybdenum olefin metathesis catalysts are known to form stable but inactive adducts with appropriate chelating ligands, but regenerating the active catalyst requires the use of Lewis acids and vigorous conditions. Here, tuning the electron donor capacity of the ligands leads to air-stable solid adducts of tungsten and molybdenum alkylidenes that spontaneously release the active catalysts in solution.