Photochemical reactions of metallocyclobutane derivatives of tungsten: evidence for the mechanism of olefin metathesis

Abstract

Irradiation of the metallocyclobutane derivatives [W(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂(-CH₂CHR²CHR¹-)], where R¹= R²= H, R¹= H, R²= Me, or R¹= Me, R²= H, gives rise to the olefins CH₂ CHR¹ and CH₂ CHR² in good yield.