Olefin metathesis transformations in thermomorphic multicomponent solvent systems

• We have performed ruthenium-catalyzed olefin metathesis in pure propylene carbonate.
• We have performed Ru-catalyzed olefin metathesis in thermomorphic solvent system.
• Renewable methyl undecenoate was transformed in TMS system.
• Low metal contamination was detected by ICP.

Homogeneous catalysis is a major actor of modern chemistry with a growing impact on clean and sustainable chemical processes. However, for many industrial applications of homogeneously catalyzed reactions, an easy separation and recovery of the catalyst should be guaranteed. Temperature-dependent multicomponent solvent (TMS) systems have been evaluated in ruthenium catalyzed olefin metathesis transformations. Propylene carbonate was found a suitable solvent for the ruthenium catalyzed ring-closing and cross-metathesis transformations of a variety of substrates including renewable fatty esters. The potential of a TMS system consisting of propylene carbonate/ethyl acetate/cyclohexane was then evaluated in the cross-metathesis of the renewable methyl 10-undecenoate with methyl acrylate and acrylonitrile.