Recent developments in design and synthesis of well-defined ruthenium metathesis catalysts - A highly successful opening for intricate organic synthesis

Abstract

This paper surveys the latest and fast growing developments in the design and synthesis of homogeneous and immobilized ruthenium metathesis catalysts. These novel ruthenium carbene complexes, devised as convenient counterparts of the well-defined tungsten and molybdenum alkylidene complexes, display comparable activity and selectivity in metathesis reactions combined with good tolerance towards organic functionalities, air and moisture. Due to their valuable attributes, they have been applied successfully in a multitude of complex organic and polymer syntheses involving ring-opening and ring-closing metathesis reactions, cross-metathesis, enyne metathesis and ring-opening metathesis polymerization. ©ARKAT.