Synthesis and catalytic evaluation of a ruthenium alkylidene complex bearing methoxy-pyridine ligand

Abstract

Modern well-defined ruthenium alkylidene complexes became preferred catalysts for a great variety of metathesis reactions. In this study, an air-stable new ruthenium alkylidene catalyst bearing 3-methoxypyridine has been prepared in one pot at high yields using commercially available [(PCy3)2Cl2RuCHPh] catalyst. Ruthenium based complex, (PCy3)(3-MeOPy)2(Cl)2RuCHPh, was characterized by a 1H NMR doublet at 20.00 (J=11.9Hz) for the RuCH proton. The catalyst was tested in model ROMP reactions and found to be very effective for ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). The optimal conditions for the polymerization of exo-N-benzylnorbornene-5,6-dicarboximide using the newly synthesized catalytic system were determined.