New nitrochromenylmethylidene-containing ruthenium metathesis catalyst

Structural analogues of Hoveyda–Grubbs catalysts bearing the 1-benzofuran moiety or isopropoxy-1-benzofuran derivatives as olefin metathesis catalysts

We have used the DFT/M06-D3 computational method to study structures and activation free energies for a series of Hoveyda–Grubbs-like catalysts with the isopropoxybenzene part replaced by 1-benzofuran and ten derivatives of isopropoxy-1-benzofuran.

New metathesis catalyst bearing chromanyl moieties at the N-heterocyclic carbene ligand

The synthesis of a new type of Hoveyda–Grubbs 2^nd generation catalyst bearing a modified N-heterocyclic carbene ligands is reported. The new catalyst contains an NHC ligand symmetrically substituted with chromanyl moieties. The complex was tested in model CM and RCM reactions. It showed very high activity in CM reactions with electron-deficient α,β-unsaturated compounds even at 0 °C. It was also examined in more demanding systems such as conjugated dienes and polyenes. The catalyst is stable, storable and easy to purify.