Ligand Displacement Reactions. IV. Catalysis of the Reaction between Trimethyl Phosphite and Tricarbonyl Complexes of Molybdenum and Tungsten

The reaction between an excess of trimethyl phosphite and the complexes (arene)M(CO)(3) (M = Mo, arene = mesitylene; M = W, arene = methyl benzoate) to give fac-[(CH3O)(3)P](3)M(CO)(3) is markedly catalyzed by trimethyl phosphate, dimethyl sulfoxide, and dimethylformamide but only slightly catalyzed by isopropylamine and tetrahydrofuran. The kinetics fit the rate law: rate = k(2)[complex] [phosphite] + k(c)[complex] [catalyst]. Values of k(2) and k(c) are reported and discussed.