Synthesis and characterization of ruthenium(II) complexes with dendritic N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

•Ru (II) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes having Fréchet-type flexible dendritic moieties were synthesized.•The structure of the complex was confirmed by X-ray crystallography.•These complexes worked as active catalysts in the ring-closing metathesis.

Ru(II) complexes with a N-heterocyclic carbene ligand bearing flexible zeroth-, first-, or second-generation dendritic moieties were synthesized and characterized. The structure of the ruthenium complex with the zeroth-generation dendritic moieties was determined by X-ray crystallography. ONIOM calculations showed that the second generation dendritic moieties surrounded the ruthenium core. These complexes worked as active catalysts for the ring-closing metathesis at 25 °C.

Graphical abstractNovel ruthenium(II) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes having Fréchet-type flexible dendritic moieties were synthesized and fully characterized. In the ring-closing metathesis, these complexes showed high catalytic activity, giving the product in high yields at 25 °C.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide