Synthesis of the ruthenium pre catalyst

Grubbs II-generation ruthenium catalyst (la) (153 mg. 0.18 mmol), copper chloride (18 mg, 0.18 mmol) and dichloromethane (10 mL) were placed in a Schlenk flask. A solution of 2-isopropoxy-5-nitrostyrene (2) (38 mg, 0.18 mmol) in dichloromethane (4 mL) was then added and the resulting solution was stirred under argon at 30 °C for 1 hour. From this point forth, all manipulations were carried out in air with reagent-grade solvents. 

METAL CATALYSED CARBON-CARBON BOND-FORMING REACTIONS 

Solvent was then removed under vacuum and the residue was purified using silica gel column chromatography with c-hexane EtOAc 8 2 to give l-[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-lH-azepine (186 mg, 99% yield) as colorless solid. 

Harutyunyan, and A. Michrowska, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 2002, 41, 4038 b) For screening of the catalytic performance of Ru and Mo-based catalysts in cross-metathesis reactions, see A. Michrowska, M. Bieniek, M. Kim, R. Klajn, and K. Grela Tetrahedron, 2003, 59, 4525-31. 

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