Elimination of benzene from a benzyloxy ligand to form a carbonyl group on a tungsten-phosphine center

WH₃(OCH₂C₆H₅) (PMe₃)₄ (1) is formed upon reaction of WH₂(PMe₃)₅ with benzyl alcohol for 12 days at ambient temperatures. Thermolysis of 1 at 80°C in toluene solution gives the carbonyl complex, WH₂(CO)(PMe₃)₄ (2) and benzene. The conversion is slower in the presence of H₂. Reaction of 1 with D₂ leads to H/D exchange in the hydride ligands and in the benzylic and ortho-phenyl positions of the benzyloxide. A mechanism for the thermolysis of 1, based on an H₂ elimination, sequential C-H activations, and CO deinsertion from an acyl ligand, is proposed. Thermolysis of 1 is much faster in the presence of free benzyl alcohol and 2 is not formed. The products under these conditions are toluene, bibenzyl, WH₄(PMe₃)₄, PMe₃ and unidentified material, consistent with the intermediacy of benzyl radicals.