The preparation, molecular structure and catalytic relevance of Ti(OSiPh3)4 and Ti(OGePh3)4

The preparation, spectroscopic characterisation and molecular structures of the four-coordinate, tetrahedral and monomeric compounds Ti(OSiPh3)4 and Ti(OGePh3)4 are presented and discussed. The catalytic inactivity of both of these compounds may be rationalised on the basis of the steric inaccessibility of the substrates to the Ti(IV) active sites, which are effectively shrouded by the bulky triphenyl groups.