The activation of ruthenium-indenylidene complexes containing two unsymmetrical unsaturated N-heterocyclic carbenes (u2-NHCs) by a transmetalation process is reported. The use of copper(I) or gold(I) chlorides promotes the rapid trapping of one NHC ligand that releases the catalytic active Ru-species. Impressive initiation rates with full-conversions are observed within one minute. This practical protocol demonstrates excellent catalytic performances in various ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and self-metathesis (SM).In a few decades, olefin metathesis has rapidly become one of the most efficient synthetic tools in organic chemistry This attractiveness was mainly due to the development of efficient, well-defined, air stable and easy to handle rutheniumarylidene complexes with high tolerance towards many organic functions. 1 Since the pioneer works describing the phosphine-based Grubbs first-generation catalyst in early 1990s, 2 the research efforts to furnish more robust and powerful complexes have drastically increased.
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