| abstract |
The invention provides a process for the in-situ generation of a metathesis active catalyst of the formula:comprising contacting an NHC carbene with a dimer of the formula [(arene)MX1X]2 and analkyne of the formula RC=CR1 or whereinM is ruthenium or osmium;X and X1 are the same or different and are each independently an anionic ligand;NHC is any N-heterocyclic carbene ligand;R, R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted substituent selected from the group consisting of C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C2-C20 alkynyl, aryl, C1-C20 carboxylate, C1-C20 alkoxy, C2-C20 alkenyloxy, C2-C20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C2-C20 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-C20 alkylthio, C1-C20 alkylsulfonyl and C1-C20 alkylsulfinyl; andR3 is OH.Preferably, the NHC is an s-IMES or IMES carbene ligand; the arene is preferably p-cymene and the alkyne is preferably acetylene. The invention further provides a process for ROMP and RCM reactions using the metathesis active catalysts. |