Synthesis of Molybdenum Alkylidene Complexes That Contain the 2,6-Dimesitylphenylimido Ligand

Compounds that have the formula M(NR)(CHR′)(OR″)(Pyrrolide), where OR″ is “large” relative to NR and M = Mo or W, have been shown to be Z-selective olefin metathesis catalysts. In this communication we report a new route to Mo complexes in which the relationship between NR and OR″ has been reversed; i.e., the imido ligand is the sterically demanding 2,6-dimesitylphenylimido ligand (NAr*).