Dioxododecaisopropoxytetratungsten. Oxygen atom abstraction from acetone in reactions with hexaisopropoxyditungsten (WW)

Abstract

W₂(OPrⁱ)₆(py)₂(WW)(py = pyridine) and acetone (1 equiv.) react in hydrocarbon solvents at ambient temperatures to yield tetramethylethylene and W₄O₂(OPrⁱ)₁₂ the latter of which is shown, by an X-ray study, to be an unusual cluster type in which the eight electrons available for M–M bonding are partitioned into an M–M triple and M–M single bond.