Synthesis of water-soluble Mo(0) tetracarbonyl complexes containing nitrogen donor ligands and polymerization of methyl methacrylate

Water-soluble Mo(0) tetracarbonyl complexes containing a α-diimine ligand have been prepared. All the complexes were characterized by elemental, LC-MS (APCI), FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The pH dependent phase transfer of these complexes was investigated. This pH dependent phase transfer was accomplished over 10 times with no evidence of complex decomposition. Their catalytic activities on methyl methacrylate polymerization were determined.