Synthesis of novel vanadium alkylidyne complexes and their use in metathesis reactions

A vanadium alkylidyne complex having a general formula of V(≡C—R)XnL4-n, or a salt thereof, wherein n is 1, 2 or 3;

• X is an anionic ligand and each is independently selected from —CH2SiMe3, a silane ligand, a siloxide ligand, a phenoxide ligand, an alkoxide ligand, an alkylthio ligand, an arylthiol ligand, a thioalkoxide ligand, a halide ligand, and an iminato ligand, or two X together form a bidentate ligand;
• L is a neutral ligand and each is independently selected from a pyridine ligand, a nitrile ligand, an ether ligand, a thioether ligand, a phosphine ligand, a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand, and a cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) ligand, or two L together form a bidentate ligand;
• and
• R is alkyl, aryl or —Si(Ra)3, wherein Ra is selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, and substituted aryl.