Multiple bonds between transition metals and main-group elements: Part 161 Oxygen-donor adducts of organorhenium(VII) oxides: syntheses, structures and catalytic properties

Abstract

N-Oxide adducts of methyltrioxorhenium(VII) ( 1) are characterized and their catalytic properties in the epoxidation of olefins with hydrogen peroxide are examined. The crystal structure of one of these derivatives is described. Whereas aliphatic N-oxides form temperature-sensitive adducts with 1 and are inactive in the catalytic epoxidation of olefins, aromatic N-oxides adducts of 1 are both stable and catalytically active. The latter complexes show lower activity than 1, but in some cases the selectivity is even higher than that of the N-base adducts of 1. The catalytic active species are of similar type in all examined cases. The structure of the oxo-functionalized complex [O 3Re(CH 2) 2CH(CH 3)OCH 3] as well as its catalytic properties in the olefin epoxidation with hydrogen peroxide are reported. The deactivation process of this catalyst is also examined.