Grubbs' catalyst

The Grubbs catalyst is a ruthenium -carbene complex, which was named after its discoverer, Robert H. Grubbs and finds application in olefin metathesis.

There are two generations of the catalyst.

In contrast to other olefin metathesis catalysts of the Grubbs catalyst is insensitive to functional groups in the olefin and used in a wide range of solvents. For this reason, the catalyst is very versatile.

Grubbs catalysts

The first generation catalyst

The first generation of the catalyst was often used for ring-opening metathesis polymerization via (ROMP ) and ring-closing metathesis to (especially for production of large rings). The catalyst can be obtained in a simple manner from RuCl2 (PPh3) 3, tricyclohexylphosphine and phenyldiazomethane in a one-pot reaction. The Grubbs catalyst is relatively stable in air, which simplifies handling.

Second generation catalyst

The second generation of catalysts is used in the same reactions as those of the first generation, but has a substantially higher activity. The catalyst is stable in air and is prepared from the first generation catalyst and the alkoxy -protected 1,3- dimesityl -4 ,5- dihydroimidazol -2-ylidene. Both generations of the catalyst are commercially available.

In 2005, Robert H. Grubbs, Richard R. Schrock and Yves Chauvin of the Nobel Prize for their discoveries to the catalyst and the application in olefin metathesis were excellent.

Hoveyda catalysts

The Hoveyda catalysts ( Grubbs - Hoveyda catalysts also ) are different from the conventional Grubbs catalysts at a position. A Tricyclohexylphosphine ligand was removed and the vacant coordination site is occupied by an aromatic ether, derived from the carbengebundenen rest.