No abstract

The catalytic activity of ruthenium alkylidene complexes [RuCl(L), bearing a chelating pyridinyl-alcoholate ligand, was investigated for the metathesis of 1-octene in the absence of a solvent. Both systems were active for the metathesis of 1-octene yielding trans-7-tetradecene and ethene as the primary metathesis products. Although the activity of both systems increased with an increase in reaction temperature, the activity ofstarted to decrease at temperatures above 70 8C, with a simultaneous exponential increase in the secondary metathesis products due to double-bond isomerisation of the substrate. Although the initiation rates for these systems are slower compared to Grubbs 1 and Grubbs 2 for the metathesis of 1-octene at 60 8C, they have a higher activity and longer lifetime.

The catalytic performances of three Phosphabicyclononane (Phoban)-containing ruthenium-based pre-catalysts have been evaluated for metathesis transformations. A wide screening of substrates in ring-closing metathesis reactions reveals the greater efficiency of pre-catalyst 4. Comparison of the catalytic activities of 4 with Grubbs' first-generation pre-catalyst illustrates the key role of the Phoban ligand. Additionally, a comparative study of three Phoban-containing pre-catalysts has been conducted for the self-metathesis of 1-octene at low catalyst loading (25-100 ppm).

Hemilabile ligands can release a free coordination site “on demand” of an incoming nucleophilic substrate while occupying it otherwise. This is believed to increase the thermal stability and activity of catalytic systems and therefore prevent decomposition via free coordination sites. In this investigation chelating pyridinyl-alcoholato ligands were identified as possible hemilabile ligands for incorporation into the second generation Grubbs precatalyst. The O , N -alcoholato ligands with different steric bulk could be successfully incorporated into the precatalysts. The incorporation of the sterically hindered, hemilabile O , N -ligands improved the thermal stability, activity, selectivity and lifetime of these complexes towards the metathesis of 1-octene. A decrease in the activity of the second generation Grubbs precatalyst was additionally observed after incorporating a hemilabile O , N -ligand with two phenyl groups into the system, while increasing their lifetime.