Ruthenium-Based Four-Coordinate Olefin Metathesis Catalysts

Abstract

A series of four-coordinate RuII alkylidenes (see scheme for an example) has been prepared as analogues of the proposed olefin metathesis intermediate [(PCy3)Cl2Ru=CHPh]. These complexes exhibit unusual trigonal-pyramidal solid-state geometries, and are rendered highly active for ring-closing metathesis by the addition of HCl.