Tricarbonylruthenacyclopentanes
were successfully synthesized by
in situ reduction of RuCl3 with Zn-Cu/CO in the presence
of N-vinylacetamides and electron-deficient alkenes
such as ethyl acrylate, dimethyl fumarate, and dimethyl maleate. X-ray
crystallography of the ruthenacyclopentanes revealed that the three
carbonyl ligands occupied coordination sites facially, and the ruthenacycle
moiety was stabilized by coordination with the acetamido oxygen atom.
When the ruthenacyclopentanes in toluene or DMA were heated to 130
°C for 24 h, linear codimers of the alkenes were formed in moderate
to good yield. Both the ruthenacyclopentane and the RuCl3/Zn-Cu/alcohol system showed catalytic activity for the linear codimerization
of alkenes, affording the codimers in good yield. The results of stoichiometric
and catalytic reactions revealed that the codimerization can proceed
via ruthenacyclopentane intermediates.
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