Olefin Metathesis in Aqueous Media

We start with studies that aim to overcome solubility problems when a typical metathesis reaction is transferred into water. The first way to introduce water is to use a solvent pair capable of rendering the reaction mixture homogeneous. For example, after an optimization study, the Hoveyda catalyst 68 was found to promote the RCM of various dienes in aqueous DME and acetone solutions. Under these homogeneous conditions, substrates with various substituents underwent RCM to form five-, six- and seven-membered cyclic products. 

97% yield using 2.0 equiv. of acrylate 93% yield using 1.3 equiv. of acrylate 

Reactions can be followed visually since the starting rose-colored colloidal dispersion of 2mol.% 65 in 2.5% PTS/water, in the presence of reactants, darkens while the CM product forms over a few hours. Most notably, reactions are carried out at rt in the open air, while most CM reactions are done at higher 

The most recent literature is organized on the basis of the selected tagging site. 

In most tagging approaches to catalyst design the ionic group is installed on the carbene ligands, i.e. the benzylidene fragment. Table 1.8 collects a few examples. 

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The olefin-metathesis in aqueous media has been applied to the... 

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