Dealkylation of chelating ethers by reaction with WCl4Y (Y = O, S, Se, or NC2Cl5)

Abstract

Cleavage of an alkyl-oxygen bond occurs when WCl₄Y (Y = O, S, Se, or NC₂Cl₅) reacts with ROCH₂CH₂OR (R = alkyl) or 1,2-dialkoxybenzene. The products of the reaction are an alkyl chloride and a tungsten alkoxide of the type [WCl₃Y(OCH₂CH₂OR)] or [WCl₃Y(OC₆H₄OR-2)]. The stages through which the reaction of MeOCH₂CH₂OMe with WCl₄O passes have been fully investigated and the nature of the final product has been verified by the formation of a number of alkoxides of the type [WCl₃O(OCH₂CH₂OR)] from the reaction of WCl₄O with ROCH₂CH₂ OH.