‘Pincer’ pyridyl- and bipyridyl-N-heterocyclic carbene analogues of the Grubbs’ metathesis catalyst

The ‘pincer’ pyridine-dicarbene and bipyridyl-carbene ruthenium benzylidene complexes, Ru(C–N–C)Cl2(CHPh) and Ru(C–N–N)Cl2(CHPh), (C–N–C) = 2,6-bis(DiPP-imidazol-2-ylidene)pyridine, (C–N–N) = (DiPP-imidazol-2-ylidene)bipyridine, have been prepared and characterised by spectroscopic and diffraction methods. They exhibit moderate metathesis activity. Non-symmetrical linear tridentate ether-functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene pro-ligands are also described.

Graphical abstractNew analogues of the Grubbs’ metathesis catalysts with ‘pincer’ N-heterocyclic carbene co-ligands are reported and assessed as catalysts.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide