Tetraphenylphenoxy tungsten oxo alkylidene complexes and methods of making same and use thereof

A compound of formula I:

• wherein:
• each of R1 and R2 is independently —R, —OR, —SR, —N(R)2, —OC(O)R, —S(O)R, —SO2R, —SO2N(R)2, —C(O)N(R)2, —NRC(O)R, or —NRSO2R;
• wherein each R is independently hydrogen or an optionally substituted group selected from C1-10 aliphatic, C1-10 heteroalkyl having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, phenyl, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated carbocyclic ring, a 6-10 membered bicyclic saturated, partially unsaturated or aryl ring, a 5-6 membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, a 7-10 membered bicyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, or an 8-10 membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur;
• or
• two R groups are optionally taken together with the intervening atoms to form an optionally substituted 3-10 membered, monocyclic or bicyclic, saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having, in addition to the intervening atoms, 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur;
• R3 is optionally substituted 5-14 membered heteroaryl having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, wherein at least one heteroatom is nitrogen;
• and wherein said heteroaryl ring is coordinated to W via said nitrogen atom;
• R4 is —OAr;
• wherein
• Ar is 2,3,5,6-tetraphenylphenyl bearing in 4-position a substituent which is different from hydrogen;
• or
• Ar is 2,3,5,6-tetraphenylphenyl bearing in 4-position a substituent which is different from hydrogen, and wherein one or more of the phenyl substituents in 2, 3, 5, or 6-position is/are substituted;
• n is 0, 1 or 2;
• and
• each R5 is independently a phosphorus-containing ligand, wherein the phosphorus-containing ligand is bonded to W through a phosphorus atom,
• wherein in Ar the substituent in 4-position is selected from —OR, —SR, —N(R)2, —OC(O)R, —S(O)R, —SO2R, —SO2N(R)2, —C(O)N(R)2, —NRC(O)R, or —NRSO2R;
• wherein each R is independently an optionally substituted group selected from C1-10 aliphatic, C1-10 heteroalkyl having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, phenyl, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated carbocyclic ring, a 6-10 membered bicyclic saturated, partially unsaturated or aryl ring, a 5-6 membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, a 7-10 membered bicyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, or an 8-10 membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur;
• or
• two R groups are optionally taken together with the intervening atoms to form an optionally substituted 3-10 membered, monocyclic or bicyclic, saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having, in addition to the intervening atoms, 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur;
• or
• wherein the substituent in 4-position is selected from halogen;
• nitro;
• cyano;
• —NH2;
• or an ester group C(O)OR7, wherein R7 is C1-10 alkyl;
• or
• each R5 is a nitrogen-containing ligand, wherein the nitrogen-containing ligand is bonded to W through a nitrogen atom, and wherein the nitrogen-containing ligand is a pyridine;
• and
• R4 is —OAr;
• wherein
• Ar is 2,3,5,6-tetraphenylphenyl;
• or
• Ar is 2,3,5,6-tetraphenylphenyl, and wherein one or more of the phenyl substituents in 2, 3, 5, or 6-position is/are substituted;
• or
• Ar is 2,3,5,6-tetraphenylphenyl bearing in 4-position a substituent which is different from hydrogen;
• or
• Ar is 2,3,5,6-tetraphenylphenyl bearing in 4-position a substituent which is different from hydrogen, and wherein one or more of the phenyl substituents in 2, 3, 5, or 6-position is/are substituted;
• and n is 0, 1 or 2,
• wherein in Ar the substituent in 4-position is selected from —OR, —SR, —N(R)2, —OC(O)R, —S(O)R, —SO2R, —SO2N(R)2, —C(O)N(R)2, —NRC(O)R, or —NRSO2R;
• wherein each R is independently an optionally substituted group selected from C1-10 aliphatic, C1-10 heteroalkyl having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, phenyl, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated carbocyclic ring, a 6-10 membered bicyclic saturated, partially unsaturated or aryl ring, a 5-6 membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, a 7-10 membered bicyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, or an 8-10 membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur;
• or
• two R groups are optionally taken together with the intervening atoms to form an optionally substituted 3-10 membered, monocyclic or bicyclic, saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having, in addition to the intervening atoms, 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur;
• or
• wherein the substituent in 4-position is selected from halogen;
• nitro;
• cyano;
• —NH2;
• or an ester group C(O)OR7, wherein R7 is C1-10 alkyl.