Synthesis,structure, and activity of enhanced initiators for olefin metathesis

A series of ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts of the general structure (H(2)IMes)(PR(3))(Cl)(2)Ru=CHPh (H(2)IMes = 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) have been prepared; these complexes are readily accessible in two steps from commercially available (H(2)IMes)(PCy(3))(Cl)(2)Ru=CHPh. Their phosphine dissociation rate constants (k(1)), relative rates of phosphine reassociation, and relative reaction rates in ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) have been investigated. The rates of phosphine dissociation (initiation) from these complexes increase with decreasing phosphine donor strength. Complexes containing a triarylphosphine exhibit dramatically improved initiation relative to (H(2)IMes)(PCy(3))(Cl)(2)Ru=CHPh. Conversely, phosphine reassociation shows no direct correlation with phosphine electronics. In general, increased phosphine dissociation leads to faster olefin metathesis reaction rates, which is of direct significance to both organic and polymer metathesis processes.     

Novel ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts containing electron-withdrawing ligands: synthesis, immobilization, and reactivity

The syntheses and reactivity of seven different ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts are described. Ru(CF3COO)2(PCy3)(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4) (1), Ru(CF3COO)2(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4) (2), and Ru(CF3COO)2(PCy(3))(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CHC6H5) (3) were prepared via chlorine exchange by reacting RuCl2(PCy3)2(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4), RuCl2(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4), and RuCl2(PCy3)(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CHC6H5), respectively, with silver trifluoroacetate (Cy =cyclohexyl). In analogy, Ru(CF3CF2COO)2(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4) (4) and Ru(CF3CF2CF2COO)2(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4) (5) were prepared from RuCl2(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4) via reaction with CF3CF2COOAg and CF3CF2CF2COOAg, respectively. Ru(C6F5COO)2(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4) (6) and Ru(C6F5O)2(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4) (7) were prepared from RuCl2(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4) via reaction with C6F5COOTl and C6F5OTl, respectively. Supported catalysts Ru(PS-DVB-CH2OOCCF2CF2CF2COO)(CF3COO)(PCy3)(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CHC6H5) (8), Ru(PS-DVB-CH2OOCCF2CF2CF2COO)(CF3COO)(PCy3)(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4) (9), and Ru(PS-DVB-CH2OOCCF2CF2CF2COO)(CF3COO)(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4) (10) were synthesized by reaction of RuCl2(PCy3)(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CHC6H5), RuCl2(PCy3)(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4), and RuCl2(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazolin-2-ylidene)(=CH-2-(2-PrO)C6H4), respectively, with a perfluoroglutaric acid-derivatized poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) (PS-DVB) support (silver form). Halogen exchange in PCy3-containing systems had to be carried out in dichloromethane in order to suppress precipitation of AgCl.PCy3. The reactivity of all new catalysts in ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of hindered electron-rich and -poor substrates, respectively, at elevated temperature (45 degrees C) was compared with that of existing systems. Diethyl diallylmalonate (DEDAM, 11), diethyl allyl(2-methylallyl)malonate (12), N,N-diallyl-p-toluenesulfonamide (13), N-benzyl-N-but-1-en-4-ylbut-2-enecarboxylic amide (14), and N-allyl-N-(1-carboxymethyl)but-3-en-1-yl-p-toluenesulfonamide (15) were used as educts. Supported catalysts were prepared with high loadings (2.4, 22.1, and 160 mg of catalyst/g PS-DVB for 8, 9, and 10, respectively). Catalyst 8 showed higher and catalysts 9 and 10 sowed significantly reduced activities in RCM compared to their homogeneous analogues. Thus, with 8, turnover numbers (TONs) up to 4200 were realized in stirred-batch (carousel) RCM experiments. To elucidate the nature of the bound species, catalysts 8-10 were subjected to 13C- and 31P-MAS NMR spectroscopy. These investigations provided evidence for the proposed structures. Leaching of ruthenium into the reaction mixture was low, resulting in ruthenium contents <85 ppb (ng/g) in the final RCM-derived products.     

Simply assembled and recyclable polymer-supported olefin metathesis catalysts

Polymer-supported ruthenium catalysts (PCy(3))(2)Ru(=C(H)Ph)Cl(2), (PCy(3))Ru(IMes)(=C(H)Ph)Cl(2), and (PCy(3))Ru(SIMes)(=C(H)Ph)Cl(2), where IMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene and SIMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene, have been prepared and found to be effective "boomerang" catalysts for ring-closing metathesis. They are recyclable, show comparable or better reactivity than their homogeneous counterparts, tolerate functional groups, and perform very well with dienes and moderately well with highly hindered substrates.     

Factors relevant for the ruthenium-benzylidene-catalyzed cyclopolymerization of 1,6-heptadyines

Fourteen metathesis initiators that had been designed for use in the living polymerization of diethyl dipropargylmalonate (DEDPM), including the Hoveyda catalyst [RuCl(2)(IMesH(2))([double bond]CH-2-(2-PrO)[bond]C(6)H(4))] (1 a), as well as [Ru(CF(3)COO)(2)(IMesH(2))([double bond]CH-2-(2-PrO)[bond]C(6)H(4))] (1 b), [Ru(CF(3)CF(2)COO)(2)(IMesH(2))([double bond]CH-2-(2-PrO)[bond]C(6)H(4))] (1 c), [Ru(CF(3)CF(2)CF(2)COO)(2)(IMesH(2))([double bond]CH-2-(2-PrO)[bond]C(6)H(4))] (1 d), [RuCl(2)(IMesH(2))([double bond]CH-2,4,5-(MeO)(3)[bond]C(6)H(2))] (2 a), [Ru(CF(3)COO)(2)(IMesH(2))([double bond]CH-2,4,5-(MeO)(3)[bond]C(6)H(2))] (2 b), [Ru(CF(3)CF(2)COO)(2)(IMesH(2))([double bond]CH-2,4,5-(MeO)(3)[bond]C(6)H(2))] (2 c), [Ru(CF(3)CF(2)CF(2)COO)(2)(IMesH(2))([double bond]CH-2,4,5-(MeO)(3)[bond]C(6)H(2))] (2 d), [RuCl(2)(IMes)([double bond]CH-2-(2-PrO)[bond]C(6)H(4))] (3 a), [Ru(CF(3)COO)(2)(IMes)([double bond]CH-2-(2-PrO)[bond]C(6)H(4))] (3 b), [RuCl(2)(IMesH(2))([double bond]CH-2-(2-PrO)-5-NO(2)[bond]C(6)H(3))] (4 a), [Ru(CF(3)COO)(2)(IMesH(2))([double bond]CH-2-(2-PrO)-5-NO(2)[bond]C(6)H(3))] (4 b), [Ru(CF(3)CF(2)COO)(2)(IMesH(2))([double bond]CH-2-(2-PrO)-5-NO(2)[bond]C(6)H(3))] (4 c), and [Ru(CF(3)CF(2)CF(2)COO)(2)(IMesH(2))([double bond]CH-2-(2-PrO)-5-NO(2)[bond]C(6)H(3))] (4 d) (IMes=1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene; IMesH(2)=1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) were prepared. Living polymerization systems could be generated with DEDPM by careful tuning of the electronic nature and steric placement of the ligands. Although 1 a, 2 a, 3 a, 3 b, and 4 a were inactive in the cyclopolymerization of DEDPM, and initiators 1 b-d did not allow any control over molecular weight, initiators 2 b-d and 4 b-d offered access to class VI living polymerization systems. In particular, compounds 2 b and 4 d were superior. The livingness of the systems was demonstrated by linear plots of M(n) versus the number of equivalents of monomer added (N). For initiators 2 b-d and 4 b-d, values for k(p)/k(i) were in the range of 3-7, while 1 b, 1 c, and 1 d showed a k(p)/k(i) ratio of >1000, 80, and 40, respectively. The use of non-degassed solvents did not affect these measurements and underlined the high stability of these initiators. The effective conjugation length (N(eff)) was calculated from the UV/Vis absorption maximum (lambda(max)). The final ruthenium content in the polymers was determined to be 3 ppm.     

The reactivity of N-heterocyclic carbenes and their precursors with [Ru(3)(CO)(12)

The ambient temperature reaction of the N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMes) and 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IDipp) with the triruthenium cluster [Ru(3)(CO)(12)], in a 3 : 1 stoichiometric ratio, results in homolytic cleavage of the cluster to quantitatively afford the complexes [Ru(CO)(4)(NHC)] (; NHC = IMes, ; NHC = IDipp). Reaction of the 2-thione or hydrochloride precursors to IMes, i.e. S[double bond, length as m-dash]IMes and IMes.HCl, with the same triruthenium cluster affords the complexes [Ru(4)(mu(4)-S)(2)(CO)(9)(IMes)(2)] () and [Ru(4)(mu(4)-S)(CO)(10)(IMes)(2)] () (3 : 1 and 2 : 1 reaction), and [{Ru(mu-Cl)(CO)(2)(IMes)}(2)] () (3 : 1 reaction) respectively. By contrast, the complex [Ru(3)(mu(3)-S)(2)(CO)(7)(IMeMe)(2)] (), where IMeMe is 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene, is the sole product of the 2 : 1 stoichiometric reaction of S[double bond, length as m-dash]IMeMe with [Ru(3)(CO)(12)]. Compounds -, and have been structurally characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Synthesis and reactivity of homogeneous and heterogeneous ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts containing electron-withdrawing ligands

The synthesis and heterogenization of new Grubbs-Hoveyda type metathesis catalysts by chlorine exchange is described. Substitution of one or two chlorine ligands with trifluoroacetate and trifluoromethanesulfonate was accomplished by reaction of [RuCl(2)([double bond]CH-o-iPr-O-C(6)H(4))(IMesH(2))] (IMesH(2) = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) with the silver salts CF(3)COOAg and CF(3)SO(3)Ag, respectively. The resulting compounds, [Ru(CF(3)SO(3))(2)([double bond]CH-o-iPr-O-C(6)H(4))(IMesH(2))] (1), [RuCl(CF(3)SO(3))([double bond]CH-o-iPr-O-C(6)H(4))(IMesH(2))] (2), and [Ru(CF(3)CO(2))(2)([double bond]CH-o-iPr-O-C(6)H(4))(IMesH(2))] (3) were found to be highly active catalysts for ring-closing metathesis (RCM) at elevated temperature (45 degrees C), exceeding known ruthenium-based catalysts in catalytic activity. Turn-over numbers (TONs) up to 1800 were achieved in RCM. Excellent yields were also achieved in enyne metathesis and ring-opening cross metathesis using norborn-5-ene and 7-oxanorborn-5-ene-derivatives. Even more important, 3 was found to be highly active in RCM at room temperature (20 degrees C), allowing TONs up to 1400. Heterogeneous catalysts were synthesized by immobilizing [RuCl(2)([double bond]CH-o-iPr-O-C(6)H(4))(IMesH(2))] on a perfluoroglutaric acid derivatized polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) support (silver form). The resulting supported catalyst [RuCl(polymer-CH(2)-O- CO-CF(2)-CF(2)-CF(2)-COO)([double bond]CH-o-iPr-O-C(6)H(4))(IMesH(2))] (5) showed significantly reduced activities in RCM (TONs = 380) compared with the heterogeneous analogue of 3. The immobilized catalyst, [Ru(polymer-CH(2)-O-CO-CF(2)-CF(2)-CF(2)-COO)(CF(3)CO(2))([double bond]CH-o-iPr-O-C(6)H(4))(IMesH(2))] (4) was obtained by substitution of both Cl ligands of the parent Grubbs-Hoveyda catalyst by addition of CF(3)COOAg to 5. Compound 4 can be prepared in high loadings (160 mg catalyst g(-1) PS-DVB) and possesses excellent activity in RCM with TONs up to 1100 in stirred-batch RCM experiments. Leaching of ruthenium into the reaction mixture was unprecedentedly low, resulting in a ruthenium content <70 ppb (ng g(-1)) in the final RCM-derived products.     

Novel metathesis catalysts based on ruthenium 1,3-dimesityl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidenes: synthesis, structure, immobilization, and catalytic activity

The synthesis of novel ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts containing the saturated 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene ligand, that is, [RuCl2(NHC)[=CH-2-(2-PrO)-5-NO(2)-C6H3]] (1) and [Ru(CF3COO)2(NHC)[=CH-2-(2-PrO)-5-NO2-C6H3]] (2) (NHC=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene) is described. Both catalysts are highly active in ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and ring-opening cross-metathesis (ROCM). Compound 1 shows moderate activity in enyne metathesis. Compound 2 is not applicable to enyne metathesis since it shows high activity in the cyclopolymerization of diethyl dipropargylmalonate (DEDPM). Poly(DEDPM) prepared by the action of 2 consists of 95% five-membered rings, that is, poly(cyclopent-1-enevinylene)s, and 5 % of six-membered rings, that is, poly(cyclohex-1-ene-3-methylidene)s. The polymerization proceeds in a nonliving manner and results in polyenes with broad polydispersities (1.9< or =PDI< or =2.3). Supported analogues of 2 were prepared by immobilization on hydroxymethyl-Merrifield resin and a monolithic support derived from ring-opening-metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Catalyst loadings of 1 and 2.5%, respectively, were obtained. Both supported versions of 2 showed excellent reactivity. With 0.24-2% of the supported catalysts, yields in RCM and ROCM were in the range of 76-100%. Leaching of ruthenium was low and resulted in Ru contaminations of the products of less than 0.000014% (0.14 ppm).     

Highly active ruthenium-based catalyst for metathesis of cyano-contained olefins

Ruthenium benzylidene complex (H₂IMes)(2-CH₃-C₅H₄N)(Cl)₂RuCHPh [H₂IMes = 1,3-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene] (4), which introduced ortho substituted pyridine as dissociating ligand to weaken Ru-N bond and accelerate initiation through steric hindrance, was prepared by the reaction of (H₂IMes)(PPh₃)(Cl)₂RuCHPh (1) with 2-methylpyridine and proved to exhibit enhanced catalytic activity for cyano-contained olefin metathesis.     

Ferrocene-containing [2]- and [3]rotaxanes. Preparation via an end-capping cross-metathesis reaction and electrochemical properties

Cross-metathesis reactions of terminal olefins with acrylic esters catalyzed by a Ru-carbene complex ((H2IMes)(PCy3)Cl2Ru = CHPh, H2IMes = N,N-bis(mesityl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) were applied to the end-capping of [2]pseudorotaxanes composed of dibenzo[24]crown-8 (DB24C8) and ferrocenylmethylammonium derivatives as the macrocyclic and axle components. A [3]rotaxane consisting of two DB24C8s and an axle molecule having ferrocenyl groups at both ends was obtained from the cross-metathesis reaction of two [2]pseudorotaxanes with Fe(C5H4CH2OCOCH = CH2)2. Cyclic voltammograms of the ferrocene-containing rotaxanes show reversible redox reactions whose potentials vary depending on the presence or absence of cationic dialkylammonium groups in the vicinity of the ferrocene units.     

Efficiency of a ruthenium catalyst in metathesis reactions of sulfur-containing compounds

[reaction: see text] 1,3-Dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene ruthenium benzylidene catalyst (RuCl2(=C(H)Ph)(PCy3)(IMes)) has been successfully employed in ring-closing metathesis reactions of acyclic diene sulfides, disulfides, and dithianes and in self-cross metathesis reactions of ene-sulfides, thioethers, and thiols.     

Model compounds of ruthenium-alkene intermediates in olefin metathesis reactions

The development of a model system to study ruthenium-olefin complexes relevant to the mechanism of olefin metathesis is reported. Upon addition of 1,2-divinylbenzene to (H2IMes)(py2)(Cl)2Ru=CHPh (H2IMes = 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene), two ruthenium-olefin adducts are formed. On the basis of 1H NMR spectroscopy experiments and X-ray crystallographic analysis, these complexes are assigned as side-bound isomers in which the olefin and H2IMes ligands are coordinated cis to each other. The dynamic interconversion of these two ruthenium complexes was determined to have a barrier of 19.1 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol.     

Metathesis of carbonyl containing olefins by 2nd generation Ru alkylidene catalysts: A computational study

The metathesis reaction of cis-1,4-diacetoxy-2-butene (2) mediated by a second generation ruthenium alkylidene catalyst (IMesH₂)Cl₂RuCHPh (1) where IMesH₂ is 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene group has been modeled at PBE0/LACV3P*//PBE0/LACVP* level of theory. The calculations demonstrate that the driving force of the metathesis reaction is the formation of a Ru–O coordination bond in the corresponding Ru acetoxyethylidene complex 8a-II. The free activation energy of metathesis by 8a-II complex is higher than that of the metathesis reaction mediated by the conventional ruthenium alkylidene catalyst (8b), due to the additional stabilization of the Ru center by a carbonyl oxygen revealing lower reactivity of carbonyl containing ruthenium carbene species. It has been shown that conjugation between carbonyl and olefin double bonds decreases the reactivity of olefins due stabilization of nonproductive complex between Ru center and carbonyl group of the olefin.     

Synthesis and activity of ruthenium alkylidene complexes coordinated with phosphine and N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of a variety of ruthenium complexes coordinated with phosphine and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. These complexes include several alkylidene derivatives of the general formula (NHC)(PR(3))(Cl)(2)Ru=CHR', which are highly active olefin metathesis catalysts. Although these catalysts can be prepared adequately by the reaction of bis(phosphine) ruthenium alkylidene precursors with free NHCs, we have developed an alternative route that employs NHC-alcohol or -chloroform adducts as "protected" forms of the NHC ligands. This route is advantageous because NHC adducts are easier to handle than their free carbene counterparts. We also demonstrate that sterically bulky bis(NHC) complexes can be made by reaction of the pyridine-coordinated precursor (NHC)(py)(2)(Cl)(2)Ru=CHPh with free NHCs or NHC adducts. Two crystal structures are presented, one of the mixed bis(NHC) derivative (H(2)IMes)(IMes)(Cl)(2)Ru=CHPh, and the other of (PCy(3))(Cl)(CO)Ru[eta(2)-(CH(2)-C(6)H(2)Me(2))(N(2)C(3)H(4))(C(6)H(2)Me(3))], the product of ortho methyl C-H bond activation. Other side reactions encountered during the synthesis of new ruthenium alkylidene complexes include the formation of hydrido-carbonyl-chloride derivatives in the presence of primary alcohols and the deprotonation of ruthenium vinylcarbene ligands by KOBu(t). We also evaluate the olefin metathesis activity of NHC-coordinated complexes in representative RCM and ROMP reactions.     

Decomposition of ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts

The decomposition of a series of ruthenium metathesis catalysts has been examined using methylidene species as model complexes. All of the phosphine-containing methylidene complexes decomposed to generate methylphosphonium salts, and their decomposition routes followed first-order kinetics. The formation of these salts in high conversion, coupled with the observed kinetic behavior for this reaction, suggests that the major decomposition pathway involves nucleophilic attack of a dissociated phosphine on the methylidene carbon. This mechanism also is consistent with decomposition observed in the presence of ethylene as a model olefin substrate. The decomposition of phosphine-free catalyst (H2IMes)(Cl)2Ru=CH(2-C6H4-O-i-Pr) (H2IMes = 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) with ethylene was found to generate unidentified ruthenium hydride species. The novel ruthenium complex (H2IMes)(pyridine)3(Cl)2Ru, which was generated during the synthetic attempts to prepare the highly unstable pyridine-based methylidene complex (H2IMes)(pyridine)2(Cl)2Ru=CH2, is also reported.     

Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes

Reaction of aminophosphinimine [RHN(CH(2))(2)N[double bond, length as m-dash]PPh(3)] (R = H, Et) with Re(2)(CO)(10) provided the NH-functionalized carbene rhenium complex [Re(2)(CNHCH(2)CH(2)NR)(CO)(9)] (3a, R = H, 3b, R = Et). Treatment of 3 with Br(2) provided the mono nuclear [Re(CNHCH(2)CH(2)NR)(CO)(4)Br] (1, R = H, 2, R = Et). However, NH-functionalized carbene complexes 1-3 did not undergo N-alkylation with alkyl halides to yield the N-substituted NHC complexes. The direct ligand substitution of [Re(CO)(5)Br] with a carbene donor was employed to prepare [Re(IMes(2))(CO)(4)Br] (6a, IMes(2) = 1,3-di-mesitylimidazol-2-ylidene; 6b, IMes(2) = 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene). Analyses of spectroscopic and crystal data of 6a and 6b show similar corresponding data among these complexes, suggesting the saturated and unsaturated NHCs have similar bonding with Re(I) metal centers. Reduction of 6a and 6b with LiEt(3)BH yielded the corresponding hydrido complexes 7a-b [ReH(CO)(4)(IMes(2))], but not 1 and 2. Ligand substitution of 1, 6a and 6b toward 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) was investigated. Crystal structures of 1, 3a-b, 6a-b and 7b were determined for characterization and comparison.     

Reversible inhibition/activation of olefin metathesis: a kinetic investigation of ROMP and RCM reactions with Grubbs' catalyst

The metathesis activity of Grubbs' catalyst 1 was investigated in the presence of N-donor ligands (1-methylimidazole [MIM], 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine [DMAP], pyridine, and 1-octylimidazole [OIM]). Ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reactions of cyclooctene (COE), bulk-ROMP reactions of COE and norbornadiene (NBD), and ring closing metathesis (RCM) reactions of diethyl diallylmalonate (DEDAM) were conducted containing various equivalents of N-donor with respect to catalyst. ROMP reactions could be stopped using MIM (1-5 equiv) and DMAP (2-5 equiv), and slowed with pyridine (1-5 equiv) by factors >100, in benzene solution for 24 h. The stopped reactions could be initiated with excess phosphoric acid (H3PO4), and the reactions proceeded faster than with uninhibited Grubbs' catalyst in the first 4 min after reactivation. Thereafter, the reaction proceeded at the same rate as the reaction with the uninhibited catalyst. ROMP reactions in neat COE and NBD could be inhibited for 72 h using 2 equiv of MIM, DMAP, or OIM and activated with H3PO4 to give polymer gels within minutes or less. RCM reactions could be completely inhibited with MIM (1-5 equiv), but upon treatment with H3PO4, the reaction would proceed at a fraction of the initial rate accomplished by uninhibited Grubbs' catalyst 1. A structural investigation of the inhibited species showed that MIM and DMAP completely or partially transform catalyst 1 into the hexacoordinate species 5a or 5b producing free PCy3, which additionally acts as an inhibitor for the ROMP reaction. Upon reactivation, the PCy3 is protonated along the N-donor ligand; however, over the period of 5 min, the phosphine has been found to coordinate back to the ruthenium catalyst. Therefore, the reaction slows to the same polymerization rate as the reaction using the uninhibited catalyst at this point. Complexes 5a and 5b were isolated, characterized, and employed in ROMP and RCM experiments where they exhibited very low catalytic activity.     

Stoichiometric and catalytic reactivity of the N-heterocyclic carbene ruthenium hydride complexes [Ru(NHC)(L)(CO)HCl] and [Ru(NHC)(L)(CO)H(eta2-BH4)] (L=NHC, PPh3)

Thermolysis of [Ru(AsPh3)3(CO)H2] with the N-aryl heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) IMes (1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), IPr (1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) or the adduct SIPr.(C6F5)H (SIPr=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene), followed by addition of CH2Cl2, affords the coordinatively unsaturated ruthenium hydride chloride complexes [Ru(NHC)2(CO)HCl] (NHC=IMes , IPr , SIPr ). These react with CO at room temperature to yield the corresponding 18-electron dicarbonyl complexes . Reduction of and [Ru(IMes)(PPh3)(CO)HCl] () with NaBH4 yields the isolable borohydride complexes [Ru(NHC)(L)(CO)H(eta2-BH4)] (, L=NHC, PPh3). Both the bis-IMes complex and the IMes-PPh3 species react with CO at low temperature to give the eta1-borohydride species [Ru(IMes)(L)(CO)2H(eta1-BH4)] (L=IMes , PPh3), which can be spectroscopically characterised. Upon warming to room temperature, further reaction with CO takes place to afford initially [Ru(IMes)(L)(CO)2H2] (L=IMes, L=PPh3) and, ultimately, [Ru(IMes)(L)(CO)3] (L=IMes , L=PPh3). Both and lose BH3 on addition of PMe2Ph to give [Ru(IMes)(L)(L')(CO)H2](L=L'=PMe2Ph; L=PPh3, L'=PMe2Ph). Compounds and have been tested as catalysts for the hydrogenation of aromatic ketones in the presence of (i)PrOH and H2. For the reduction of acetophenone, catalytic activity varies with the NHC present, decreasing in the order IPr>IMes>SIMes.     

Novel ruthenium(ii) complexes containing the N-phosphorylated iminophosphorane-phosphine ligand Ph(2)PCH(2)P{[double bond, length as m-dash]NP([double bond, length as m-dash]O)(OEt)(2)}Ph(2): a new coordination mode of its methanide anion

The reactivity of complex [Ru(eta(6)-p-cymene)(kappa(3)P,N,O-Ph(2)PCH(2)P{[double bond, length as m-dash]NP([double bond, length as m-dash]O)(OEt)(2)}Ph(2))][SbF(6)](2) towards a variety of mono- and bidentate neutral ligands has been studied, allowing the high-yield synthesis of the novel half-sandwich Ru(ii) derivatives [Ru(eta(6)-p-cymene)(L)(kappa(2)P,O-Ph(2)PCH(2)P{[double bond, length as m-dash]NP([double bond, length as m-dash]O)(OEt)(2)}Ph(2))][SbF(6)](2) (L = N[triple bond, length as m-dash]CMe , N[triple bond, length as m-dash]CEt , PMe(3), PMe(2)Ph , PMePh(2), PPh(3), P(OMe)(3), P(OEt)(3), P(OPh)(3), py , kappa(1)P-dppm , kappa(1)P-dppe ), as well as the octahedral species [Ru(Ninsertion markN)(2)(kappa(2)P,O-Ph(2)PCH(2)P{[double bond, length as m-dash]NP([double bond, length as m-dash]O)(OEt)(2)}Ph(2))][SbF(6)](2) (Ninsertion markN = bipy , phen ). Deprotonation of complexes ,, upon treatment with an excess of NaOH in CH(2)Cl(2), generates the monocationic derivatives [Ru(Ninsertion markN)(2)(kappa(2)P,N-Ph(2)PC(H)[double bond, length as m-dash]P{NP([double bond, length as m-dash]O)(OEt)(2)}Ph(2))][Cl] (Ninsertion markN = bipy , phen ) in which the methanide anion adopts an unprecedented kappa(2)P,N bidentate coordination mode. The structures of compounds , and have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods.     

Ruthenium-olefin complexes: effect of ligand variation upon geometry

The development of a model system to study ruthenium-olefin complexes relevant to the mechanism of olefin metathesis has been reported recently. Upon addition of the ligand precursor 1,2-divinylbenzene to [RuCl(2)(Py)(2)(H(2)IMes)(==CHPh)] (H(2)IMes=1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene), two ruthenium-olefin adducts are formed. Based on (1)H NMR spectroscopy experiments and X-ray crystallographic analysis, these complexes are assigned as side-bound isomers in which the olefin and H(2)IMes ligands are coordinated cis to each other. Herein is reported an investigation of the generality of these observations through variation of the N-heterocyclic carbene ligand and the ligand precursor.     

Facile one-step synthesis of bis(NHC) ruthenium benzylidene catalyst for ring-closing metathesis

Bis(NHC) ruthenium benzylidene complex (H₂IMe)₂(Cl)₂RuCHPh (9) [H₂IMe = 1,3-bis(2,6- dimethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene] was synthesized facilely by one-step reaction of (PPh₃)₂(Cl)₂RuCHPh (7) with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) H₂IMe (6). Complex 9 proved to exhibit remarkable catalytic activity for ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction at increased temperature.