Alkyne oligomerization catalyzed by molybdenum(0) complexes

Three new molybdenum(0) complexes, [Mo(CO)3(Hpz)3] (1), [Mo(CO)2(Hpz)2(DMAD)2] (2), (DMAD=dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate) and [Mo(CO)3(1-Me-imidazole)3] (3) were synthesized and characterized. Their activity and selectivity in alkyne cyclotrimerization and co-trimerization reactions was investigated. The molecular structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by unconventional powder and standard single-crystal diffraction methods, respectively. 1 consists of a pseudo-octahedral complex of C3 symmetry, with the ligands in fac disposition; complex 2, of idealized C2 symmetry, is obtained by substitution of one CO and one pyrazole in 1 by two DMAD ligands, and shows the rare trans configuration of π-bound acetylenic moieties.