Methatesis reaction

The methatesis of vegetable oils with ethylene is a very interesting way to obtain new unsaturated structures to be transformed into new polyols via the epoxidation - alcoholysis route. Trioleine was used as a model compound (the triester of glycerol with oleic acid), the methatesis reaction with ethylene being catalysed by a special ruthenium catalyst [72]. The resulting triglyceride, with terminal double bonds, after removal of the 1-decene formed, is transformed into polyols by epoxidation, followed by alcoholysis with methanol (reactions 17.27 and 17.28). 

The authors have suggested the intermediate formation of a nitrene species by deoxygenation of the nitro group by carbon monoxide. An wtra-molecular methatesis-like reaction of the nitrene complex with the carbonyl group of the amide should yield the corresponding quinazolinone and a transition metal oxo complex (Scheme 19) ... 

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