Olefin Metathesis in Water: Speciation of a Leading Water-Soluble Catalyst Pinpoints Challenges and Opportunities for Chemical Biology.

ABSTRACT: The metathetical modification of biomolecules in aqueous environments holds great promise for advances at the interface of chemistry, biology, and medicine. However, rapid degradation of the metathesis catalysts necessitates their use in large stoichiometric excess, resulting in undesired side-reactions promoted by the ruthenium products. Although water is now known to play a central role in catalyst decomposition, the elusive nature of the intermediates has hampered insight into the pathways involved. We describe the detailed speciation in water of AquaMet (AM), the dominant ruthenium catalyst used for aqueous metathesis, and implications for catalysis. Potentiometric and spectroscopic speciation studies reveal that only trace AM is present under the pH-neutral, salt-free co

SUBMITTER: Blanco CO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11926881 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature