LAUSR

Abstract This paper reports the synthesis of six potential catalyst precursors for hydrocracking reactions for vacuum residue refinement. New group 6 transition metal complexes, (LM(CO)3) (M = Mo or W, L1 = 3-phenyl-1-propyne, L2 = 4-phenyl-1-butyne, and L3 = 5-phenyl-1-pentyne) were prepared by simply stirring M(CO)3(RCN)3 in THF solution. New compounds were applied as a catalyst precursor for hydrocracking of vacuum residue and the catalytic activity was compared to the commercially available material, Mo-octoate. LMo(CO)3 showed similar activities to Mo-octoate. Among all, L3Mo(CO)3 which had the longest alkyl chain showed a comparable result of low yield for coke and gas products.