A neutral, water-soluble olefin metathesis catalyst based on an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand

A water-soluble ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalyst supported by a poly(ethylene glycol) conjugated N-heterocyclic carbene ligand is reported. The catalyst displays greater activity in aqueous ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reactions than previously reported water-soluble metathesis catalysts.