Unsaturated fatty acid esters metathesis catalyzed by silica supported WMe5

• Metathesis of unsaturated fatty acid esters (FAEs) by W-based single catalytic system.
• High selective olefin metathesis operating at high temperature.
• Cross-metathesis of unfunctionalized α-olefins and FAEs studied.

Metathesis of unsaturated fatty acid esters (FAEs) by silica supported multifunctional W-based catalyst is disclosed. This transformation represents a novel route towards unsaturated di-esters. Especially, the self-metathesis of ethyl undecylenate results almost exclusively on the homo-coupling product whereas with such catalyst, 1-decene gives ISOMET (olefinisomerization and metathesis) products. The olefin metathesis in the presence of esters is very selective without any secondary cross-metathesis products demonstrating that a high selective olefin metathesis could operate at 150 °C. Additionally, a cross-metathesis of unsaturated FAEs and α-olefins allowed the synthesis of the corresponding ester with longer hydrocarbon skeleton without isomerisation.

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