While the fundamental series of [2+2]cycloadditions and retro[2+2]cycloadditions that make up the pathways of ruthenium-catalysed metathesis reactions is well-established, the exploration of mechanistic aspects of alkene metathesis continues. In this Feature Article, modern mechanistic studies of the alkene metathesis reaction, catalysed by well-defined ruthenium complexes, are discussed. Broadly, these concern the processes of pre-catalyst initiation, propagation and decomposition, which all have a considerable impact on the overall efficiency of metathesis reactions.

The synthesis and characterization of a novel indenylidene-containing ruthenium catalyst bearing the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (SIPr) are reported. Comparative reactivity studies with other indenylidene complexes using various substrates show the importance of the sterically demanding SIPr ligand on catalyst reaction profile. The investigation of the reaction scope for ring-closing metathesis transformations establishes the influence of the NHC on catalyst activity especially as a function of substrate steric bulk. The novel catalyst was found very efficient at room temperature for nonsterically hindered substrates. Since the new catalyst was found to be soluble in a variety of solvents, a number of these were examined to gauge the importance of solvent effects.

Olefin metathesis is a powerful tool for the formation of carbon-carbon double bonds. Several families of well-defined ruthenium (Ru) catalysts have been developed during the past 20 years; however, the reaction mechanism for all such complexes was assumed to be the same. In the present study, the initiation mechanism of Ru-indenylidene complexes was examined and compared with that of benzylidene counterparts. It was discovered that not all indenylidene complexes followed the same mechanism, highlighting the importance of steric and electronic properties of so-called spectator ligands, and that there is no single mechanism for the Ru-based olefin metathesis reaction. The experimental findings are supported quantitatively by DFT calculations.

SummaryThe aims of this contribution are to present a straightforward synthesis of 2nd generation Hoveyda-type olefin metathesis catalysts bearing bromo and iodo ligands, and to disclose the subtle influence of the different anionic co-ligands on the catalytic performance of the complexes in ring opening metathesis polymerisation, ring closing metathesis, enyne cycloisomerisation and cross metathesis reactions.

The synthesis and characterization of two new ruthenium indenylidene complexes [RuCl(2)(SIPr)(Py)(Ind)] 6 and [RuCl(2)(SIPr)(3-BrPy)(Ind)] 7 featuring the sterically demanding N-heterocyclic carbene 1,3-bis(2,6-di isopropylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (SIPr) are reported. Remarkable activity was observed with these complexes in ring closing, enyne, and cross metathesis of olefins at low catalyst loadings. The performance of SIPr-bearing complexes 6 and 7 as well as [RuCl(2)(SIPr)(PCy(3))(Ind)] 5 in ring opening metathesis polymerization is also disclosed. This work highlights the enormous influence of the neutral "spectator" ligands on catalyst activity and stability.