Highly Selective Dimerization of Styrenes and Linear Co‐dimerization of Styrenes with Ethylene Catalyzed by a Ruthenium Complex

Abstract

Heads you win: An unusual head-to-head dimerization of styrenes has been developed using the zero-valent ruthenium catalyst [Ru(η6-cot)(η2-dmfm)2] (cot=1,3,5-cyclooctatriene, dmfm=dimethyl fumarate) in the presence of primary alcohols to give the homo-dimer in high regio- and stereoselectivity. The catalyst system is also effective for the selective co-dimerization of styrenes with ethylene to give the co-dimer in high yield.