Inventors:
Robert H. Grubbs - South Pasadena CA
Tomas R. Belderrain - Seville, ES
Seth N. Brown - South Bend IN
Thomas E. Wilhelm - Pasadena CA
Assignee:
California Institute of Technology - Pasadena CA
International Classification:
C07F 1500
US Classification:
556 21, 556 23, 556136, 502152
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the synthesis of highly active ruthenium and osmium carbene metathesis catalyst in good yield from readily available starting materials. The catalysts that may be synthesized are of the general formula wherein: M is ruthenium or osmium; X and X are independently any anionic ligand; L and L are any neutral electron donor ligand; and, R and R are each hydrogen or one of the following substituent groups: C -C alkenyl, C -C alkynyl, C -C alkyl, aryl, C -C carboxylate, C -C alkoxy, C -C alkenyloxy, C -C alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C -C alkoxycarbonyl, C -C alkylthio, C -C alkylsulfonyl and C -C alkylsulfinyl. Optionally, the substituent group may be substituted with one or more groups selected from C -C alkyl, halogen, C -C alkoxy, and aryl. When the substitute aryl group is phenyl, it may be further substituted with one or more groups selected from a halogen, a C -C alkyl, or a C -C alkoxy. Specific synthetic protocols for vinyl alkylidene catalysts wherein R is hydrogen and R is âCHCR R and non-vinyl alkylidene catalysts are also disclosed.