Development of the first well-defined tungsten oxo alkyl derivatives supported on silica by SOMC: towards a model of WO3/SiO2 olefin metathesis catalyst.

A well-defined, silica-supported tungsten oxo alkyl species prepared by the surface organometallic chemistry approach displays high and sustained activity in propene metathesis. Remarkably, its catalytic performances outpace those of the parent imido derivative, underlining the importance of the oxo ligand in the design of robust catalysts.