Ring-opening metathesis polymerisation

About: Ring-opening metathesis polymerisation is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3479 publications have been published within this topic receiving 121231 citations. The topic is also known as: Ring-opening metathesis polymerization.

Well-defined ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts: Mechanism and activity

Abstract: Several ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalysts of the formula (PR3)2X2RuCHCHCPh2 have been synthesized, and relative catalyst activities were determined by monitoring the ring-closing metathesis of the acyclic diene diethyl diallylmalonate. The following order of increasing activity was determined: X = I < Br < Cl and PR3 = PPh3 ≪ PiPr2Ph < PCy2Ph < PiPr3 < PCy3. Additional studies were conducted with the catalyst (PCy3)2Cl2RuCH2 to probe the mechanism of olefin metathesis by this class of catalysts. The data support a scheme in which there are two competing pathways: the dominant one in which a phosphine dissociates from the ruthenium center and a minor one in which both phosphines remain bound. Higher catalyst activites could be achieved by the addition of CuCl to the reaction.

Experimental evidence for the quasi-living nature of the grignard metathesis method for the synthesis of regioregular poly(3-alkylthiophenes)

Abstract: The Grignard metathesis (GRIM) polymerization of 3-alkylthiophenes proceeds by a quasi-“living” chain growth mechanism, not by a step growth process. Kinetic studies of the Grignard metathesis polymerization of 2,5-dibromo-3-alkylthiophenes showed that the molecular weight of poly(3-alkylthiophenes) is a function of the molar ratio of the monomer to nickel initiator, and conducting polymers with predetermined molecular weights and relatively narrow molecular weight distributions (PDIs = 1.2−1.5) can be made. Sequential monomer addition resulted in new block copolymers containing different poly(3-alkylthiophene) segments.

Prevention of undesirable isomerization during olefin metathesis.

Abstract: 1,4-Benzoquinones have been found to prevent olefin isomerization of a number of allylic ethers and long-chain aliphatic alkenes during ruthenium-catalyzed olefin metathesis reactions. Electron-deficient benzoquinones are the most effective additives for the prevention of olefin migration. This mild, inexpensive, and effective method to block olefin isomerization increases the synthetic utility of olefin metathesis via improvement of overall product yield and purity.

Synthesis of Functionalized Olefins by Cross and Ring-Closing Metatheses

Abstract: The generation of olefins with electron-withdrawing functionality, such as α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, ketones, and esters, remains a difficult task in organic chemistry. A practical method to approach this problem would involve olefin metathesis, utilizing well-defined alkylidenes such as ((CF_3)_2MeCO)_2(ArN)Mo CH(t-Bu) (1) and (Pcy_3)_2Cl_2Ru CHPh (2). However, the generation of olefins with vinylic functionality through the use of cross-metathesis (CM) has met with limited success. In one of the few reports of this reaction, Crowe and Goldberg demonstrated that acrylonitrile participated in cross-metathesis reactions with a variety of terminal olefins. Other π-conjugated olefins, such as enones and enoic esters, were not functional group compatible with alkylidene 1 and failed to react with 2 in cross-metathesis. Recently, the highly active ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalyst 3, which contains a 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydro-imidazol-2-ylidene ligand, was found to efficiently catalyze the cross-metathesis of 1,1-geminally disubstituted olefins.7 Because ruthenium alkylidene 3 displayed unique activity toward previously metathesis-inactive substrates, we decided to investigate the metathesis of α-functionalized olefins. In this communication, we report the single-step synthesis of α-functionalized olefins by intermolecular cross-metathesis and intramolecular ring-closing metathesis using ruthenium alkylidene 3.