Protonolysis of a ruthenium-carbene bond and applications in olefin metathesis.

ABSTRACT: The synthesis of a ruthenium complex containing an N-heterocylic carbene (NHC) and a mesoionic carbene (MIC) is described wherein addition of a Brønsted acid results in protonolysis of the Ru-MIC bond to generate an extremely active metathesis catalyst. Mechanistic studies implicated a rate-determining protonation step in the generation of the metathesis-active species. The activity of the NHC/MIC catalyst was found to exceed those of current commercial ruthenium catalysts.

SUBMITTER: Keitz BK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3121189 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature