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

The catalytic mixture based on Mo(CO), 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. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.