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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

High-oxidation-state molybdenum and tungsten monoalkoxide pyrrolide alkylidenes as catalysts for olefin metathesis

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Chapter 1 describes work toward solid-supported W olefin metathesis catalysts. Attempts to tether derivatives of the known Z-selective catalyst W(NAr)(C₃H₆)(pyr)(OHIPT) (Ar = 2,6- diisopropylphenyl, pyr = pyrrolide; HIPT = 2,6-bis-(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)phenyl) to a modified silica surface by covalent linkages are unsuccessful due to destructive interactions between W precursors and silica. W(NAr)(C₃H₆)(pyr)(OHIPT) and W(NAr)(CHCMe₂Ph)(pyr)(OHIPT-NMe₂) (HIPT-NMe 2 = 2,6-bis-(2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl)-4- dimethylaminophenyl) are adsorbed onto calcined alumina. W(NAr)(C 3H6 )(pyr)(OHIPT) is destroyed upon binding to alumina, while W(NAr)(CHCMe 2Ph)(pyr)(OHIPT-NMe 2) appears to bind through a non-destructive interaction between the dimethylamino group and an acidic surface site. The heterogeneous catalysts perform non-stereoselective metathesis of terminal olefins, and W(NAr)(CHCMe₂Ph)(pyr)(OHIPT-NMe₂) can be washed off the surface with polar solvent and perform solution-phase Z-selective metathesis. Chapter 2 details selective metathesis homocoupling of 1,3-dienes with Mo and W monoalkoxide pyrrolide (MAP) catalysts. A catalytically relevant vinylalkylidene complex, Mo(NAr)(CHCHCH(CH₃)₂)(Me₂pyr)(OHMT) (HMT = 2,6-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)phenyl; Me₂pyr = 2,5-dimethylpyrrolide), is isolated. A series of Mo and W MAP catalysts is synthesized and tested for activity, stereoselectivity, and chemoselectivity in 1,3-diene metathesis homocoupling. Catalysts containing the OHIPT ligand display excellent selectivity in general, and W catalysts are less active but more selective than their Mo counterparts. Chapter 3 recounts the synthesis and characterization of several heteroatom-substituted alkylidene complexes with the formula Mo(NAr)(CHER)(Me₂pyr)(OTPP) (TPP = 2,3,5,6- tetraphenylphenyl; ER = OPr, N-pyrrolidinonyl, N-carbazolyl, pinacolborato, trimethylsilyl, SPh, or PPh2). Synthesis proceeds via alkylidene exchange between Mo(NAr)(CHR)(Me₂pyr)(OTPP) (R = H, CMe₂Ph) and a CH₂CHER precursor. Each complex behaves similarly to known MAP complexes in olefin metathesis processes; the electronic identity of ER has little effect on catalytic properties. Distinctive features of alkylidene isomerism and catalyst resting state are examined. Chapter 4 contains synthetic and catalytic studies of thiolate-containing Mo and W imido alkylidene complexes. The species M(NAr)(CHCMe 2Ph)(pyr)(SHMT) (M = Mo or W), Mo(NAr)(CHCMe₂Ph)(Me₂pyr)(STPP), and Mo(NAr)(CHCMe₂Ph)(STPP)₂ are synthesized by substitution of the appropriate thiol or thiolate ligands for pyrrolide or triflate ligands in metal precursors. These complexes show similar structural and spectral characteristics to alkoxidecontaining species. The thiolate complexes and their alkoxide analogues are compared for activity and selectivity in metathesis homocoupling and ring-opening metathesis polymerization processes. In general, thiolate catalysts are slower and less selective than alkoxide catalysts.

Degree

thesis:*
Department dc:contributor.department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemistry.
Grantor dc:publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Year dc:date.issued
2014

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Townsend, Erik Matthew
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Richard R. Schrock.

Subjects

dc:subject × 1

Rights

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Statement dc:rights
  • M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Language dc:language.iso
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/91116
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/91116

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Last updated
2026-07-22
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citation

Townsend, Erik Matthew. High-oxidation-state molybdenum and tungsten monoalkoxide pyrrolide alkylidenes as catalysts for olefin metathesis. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/91116