Silanol–molybdenum hexacarbonyl as a new efficient catalyst for metathesis of functionalised alkynes under microwave irradiation

The catalytic mixture based on Mo(CO)6 was re-examined in the metathesis of 4-methoxytolan. Silanols (4) or (5) were found to be very active as co-catalysts. The metathesis of functional alkynes was convenient and rapidly achieved in octane as solvent under microwave irradiation in a resonance cavity.