Ruthenium complexes mechanistic investigations

The mechanistic investigations presented in this section have stimulated research directed to the development of advanced ruthenium precatalysts for olefin metathesis. It was pointed out by Grubbs et al. that the utility of a catalyst is determined by the ratio of catalysis to the rate of decomposition [31]. The decomposition of ruthenium methylidene complexes, which attribute to approximately 95% of the turnover, proceeds monomolecularly, which explains the commonly observed problem that slowly reacting substrates require high catalyst loadings [31]. This problem has been addressed by the development of a novel class of ruthenium precatalysts, the so-called second-generation catalysts. 

A recent study showed that 152 behaves mechanistically different from other catalysts in addition reactions of more activated halides 140, such as trichloroacetate to styrene [222]. After initial reduction to Ru(II), chlorine abstraction from substrates 140 is in contrast to all other ruthenium complexes not the rate limiting step (cf. Fig. 36). ESR spectroscopic investigations support this fact. The subsequent addition to styrene becomes rate limiting, while the final ligand transfer step is fast and concentration-independent. For less activated substrates 140, however, chlorine abstraction becomes rate-determining again. Moreover, the Ru(III) complex itself can enter an, albeit considerably slower Ru(III)-Ru(IV) Kharasch addition cycle, when the reaction was performed in the absence of magnesium. This cycle operates, however, for only the most easily reducible halides, such as trichloroacetate. 

A particularly dramatic example of a metal-mediated oxygen transfer reaction is seen in the reaction of ruthenium(II) phenoxazinylate complexes with dioxygen. This reaction has been mechanistically investigated, and it is proposed that the key steps are as indicated in Scheme 7. 

Although mechanistically different, a successful kinetic resolution of cyclic allyl ethers has recently been achieved by zirconium catalysis [2201. Other metals such as cobalt [221], ruthenium [222], and iron [2231 have been shown to catalyze allylic alkylation reactions via metal-allyl complexes. However, their catalytic systems have not been thoroughly investigated, and the corresponding asymmetric catalytic processes have not been forthcoming. Nevertheless, increasing interest in the use of alternative metals for asymmetric alkylation will undoubtedly promote further research in this area. 

Shaffer EA, Chen C-L, Beatty AM, Valente EJ, Schanz H-J. Synthesis of ruthenium phenylindenylidene, carbyne, aUenyHdene and vinylmethylidene complexes from (PPh3)3 4RuCl2 A mechanistic and stmctural investigation. J Organomet Chem. 2007 692(23) 5221-5233. 

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