The reactivity of the [WCl4(OAr)2] (OAr = O-2,6-C3H3Cl2, O-2,6-C6H3F2 and O-C6H3Me2) systems, plus the silicon compounds Ph2SiH2 and polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS), were studied in metathesis reactions. The olefins used were methyl-10-undecenoate and 1-hexene. The results showed that the [WCl4(OAr)2]-silicon compound systems are active and selective when the aryloxide ligand contain electronegative groups. The silicon compound PMHS proved to be the best cocatalyst for metathesis, even with the [WCl4(O-2,6-C6H3Me 2)2] compound, which has no electronegative substituents. Because it is non-toxic, non-volatile, easy to handle and cheap, PMHS is a good alternative cocatalyst in metathesis reactions.
tungsten catalysts; hydrosilane cocatalysts; olefin metathesis
