A Ruthenium Catalyst for Olefin Metathesis Featuring an Anti‐Bredt N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligand

A ruthenium complex bearing an “anti‐Bredt” N‐heterocyclic carbene was synthesized, characterized and evaluated as a catalyst for olefin metathesis. Good conversions were observed at room temperature for the formation of di‐ and tri‐substituted olefins by ring‐closing metathesis. It also allowed for the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of cyclooctadiene, as well as for the cross‐metathesis of cis‐1,4‐diacetoxy‐2‐butene with allylbenzene, with enhanced Z/E kinetic selectivity over classical NHC‐based catalysts. magnified image