Ionic-tagged catalytic systems applied to the ethenolysis of methyl oleate

•A new ionic-tagged complex was prepared from Grubbs first generation catalyst.•The new complex presented high activity and selectivity to methyl oleate ethenolysis.•Nanoparticle silica was used to prepare supported ionic liquid phase catalysts.•Mass transfer properties were improved by proper ionic liquid/support ratio.•The 1-isopentyl-3-methylimidazole cation proved suitable for ethenolysis reactions.

A novel high selective ionophilic Hoveyda-type complex for the methyl oleate ethenolysis was prepared from Grubbs first generation catalyst. Ethenolysis under classical biphasic systems in ionic liquids showed to be mass-transference limited. This drawback was successfully solved by the catalyst dispersion on high specific surface area inorganic supports through a thin layer of ionic liquids (ILs). The supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) catalyst properties were patterned by the support type, IL cation and support/IL mass ratio. The SILP prepared with the IL 1-isopentyl-3-methylimidazole hexafluorophosphate and silica showed a turnover number higher (up to 2350) than that of biphasic systems (up to 1045).

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