A series of rhenium trioxo complexes (L− ReO 3 ) was synthesized, characterized, and demonstrated to be active in olefin metathesis. The relationship between perrhenate (ReO 4 − ), perrhenyl (ReO 3 + ), and metathesis-active rhenium complexes (L−ReO 3 ) was elucidated. Their chemical behavior can be tuned through the Lewis acid−base interaction. DFT calculations were performed for the metathesis reaction of L−ReO 3 with norbornene, which demonstrates that electron-withdrawing substituents or ligands are beneficial for olefin metathesis activity. Moreover, a rhenium− alkylidene complex was synthesized, which can be activated by B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 to afford an active metathesis catalyst. This system can be regarded as a homogeneous model of the hypothetical species present in the heterogeneous catalytic systems. The findings from the present study are consistent with our previous gas-phase studies and constitute the elucidation of the working principles for the metathesis-active rhenium species on the surface.
■ INTRODUCTIONThe system Re 2 O 7 /Al 2 O 3 and its related system, CH 3 ReO 3 (MTO)/Al 2 O 3 −SiO 2 , are effective heterogeneous catalysts for olefin metathesis at ambient temperature, even though the putative rhenium carbene active species is produced only in situ. Understanding of the mechanism on a molecular level for heterogeneous catalysis remains a challenge. Therefore, it is essential to synthesize homogeneous models of the hypothetical surface species present in the rhenium-based heterogeneous catalysts. These models can serve as a bridge between the realms of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis and help to elucidate the working principles for those heterogeneous catalysts. Our earlier experimental and computational studies on high-valent rhenium trioxo complexes in the gas phase 1 inspired the pseudo-Wittig mechanism 2 and have proven essential for elucidation of the structural requirements for a self-activating homogeneous metathesis catalyst. As is evident from Scheme 1, a reaction sequence from left to right would provide a route for a rhenium−oxo complex to react with an olefin to form a rhenium carbene by addition, rearrangement, and dissociation. As suggested by qualitative molecular orbital arguments, as well as high-level quantum chemical calculations, 1c this requires that (i) the rhenium center is four-coordinate, (ii) the supporting ligand is a σ-donor, and (iii) the σ-donor ligand is electron-deficient. In other words, the electronic property of L in L−ReO 3 plays an important role in metathesis activity.From a structural point of view, Re 2 O 7 can be divided into two fragments: a perrhenate anion (ReO 4 − ) and a perrhenyl cation (ReO 3 + ). Cleavage of Re 2 O 7 can be achieved in the presence of electrophiles or nucleophiles to give monomeric compounds of the general formula L−ReO 3 . 3 It was reported that Re 2 O 7 dissolves in polar solvents such as THF, CH 3 CN, and pyridine to form solvent adducts. 4 This unsymmetrical coordination enhances the reactivity of Re 2 O 7 toward alkyla...