Metathesis of cardanol over Ru catalysts supported on mesoporous molecular sieve SBA-15

• Ru alkylidenes were immobilized on SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieves.
• Ru hybrid catalysts were highly active and selective in cardanol metathesis.
• Cardanol cross-metathesis with ethene and diacetoxybutene was investigated.
• Low Ru leaching and easy catalyst separation from products was observed.

The Hoveyda–Grubbs type Zhan catalysts (ZC) and Grubbs second generation catalyst (GII) were immobilized on SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieve by non-covalent interactions and phosphine linkers, respectively. Both hybrid catalysts proved to be highly active and selective in cardanol metathesis and cardanol cross-metathesis with ethene and cis-1,4-diacetoxy-2-butene (DAB). GII/SBA-15 was less active than ZC/SBA-15, however, Ru leaching was significantly lower for GII/SBA-15 (0.5%) than for ZC/SBA-15 (2.5%). In ethenolysis of cardanol, 3-(non-8-enyl)phenol was isolated as a major product. In cross-metathesis with DAB 9-(3-hydroxyphenyl)non-2-enyl acetate and non-2-enyl acetate were formed with high selectivity. Easy catalyst–product separation and low Ru leaching provide the products (applicable as detergent precursors and fragrance and flavor agents) free from the catalyst residue.

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