SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF METATHESIS CATALYSTS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/378,791, filed Aug. 24, 2016.

This invention relates generally to olefin metathesis catalysts, to the preparation of such compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds, and the use of such compounds in the metathesis of olefins and in the synthesis of related olefin metathesis catalysts. The invention has utility in the fields of catalysis, organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, and in industrial applications such as oil and gas, fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Since its discovery in the 1950s, olefin metathesis has emerged as a valuable synthetic method for the formation of carbon-carbon double bonds. Recent advances in applications to organic syntheses and polymer syntheses mostly rely on developments of well-defined olefin metathesis catalysts.

The technology of ruthenium metathesis catalysts has enabled the development of several research platforms including: ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), ring opening cross metathesis (ROCM), cross metathesis (CM), and ring closing metathesis (RCM).

First Generation Grubbs ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts, such as: (PCy₃)₂(Cl)₂Ru═CHPh, have been largely used in organic synthesis.

The incorporation of certain types of N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) ligands played an essential role in the development of ruthenium metathesis catalysts, giving rise to the Second Generation Grubbs ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts, such as: (IMesH₂)(PCy₃)(Cl)₂Ru═CHPh, where IMesH₂is 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene.

In order to exchange the phosphine on the Second Generation Grubbs ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts, the Grubbs group reported in 2001 (Organometallics 2001, 20, 5314-5318) a method involving a precursor bearing two pyridine ligands: (IMesH₂)(Cl)₂(C₅H₅N)₂Ru═CHPh. The labile pyridine ligands have allowed the preparation of diverse ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts. However, the preparation of pyridine complexes, requires large quantities of expensive and malodorous reagents (pyridine), and difficult reaction conditions (negative ° C. temperatures) especially for industrial scale-up.

Therefore there is an ongoing need for efficient, high yield, high purity and ease in scaling up procedures for the synthesis of olefin metathesis catalysts, particularly Second Generation Grubbs ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts.

To meet this need the inventors have discovered novel ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts, bearing a sulfoxide ligand as described herein. The ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts bearing sulfoxide labile ligands exhibit high stability and allow the ready synthesis of various Second Generation Grubbs ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts in higher yield and with higher purity, compared to the existing procedures.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst, represented by the structure of Formula (I)

wherein:

M is a Group 8 transition metal; generally, M is ruthenium or osmium; typically, M is ruthenium;

L¹and L²are independently neutral electron donor ligands;

n is 0 or 1; typically, n is 0;

m is 0, 1, or 2; typically, m is 0;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl; or IV and R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group [—S(O)—];

X¹and X²are independently anionic ligands; generally, X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; typically, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I or F;

R¹and R²are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R¹is hydrogen and R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of synthesizing the olefin metathesis catalysts of the invention.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of using the olefin metathesis catalysts of the invention in metathesis reactions.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of synthesizing a Second Generation Grubbs catalyst, using an olefin metathesis catalyst of the invention.

Other embodiments of the invention are described herein.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent to one of skill in the art, in light of the following detailed description and examples. Furthermore, it is to be understood that none of the embodiments or examples of the invention described herein are to be interpreted as being limiting.

Unless otherwise indicated, the invention is not limited to specific reactants, substituents, catalysts, reaction conditions, or the like, as such may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not to be interpreted as being limiting.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “an olefin” includes a single olefin as well as a combination or mixture of two or more olefins, reference to “a substituent” encompasses a single substituent as well as two or more substituents, and the like.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the terms “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” or “including” are meant to introduce examples that further clarify more general subject matter. Unless otherwise specified, these examples are provided only as an aid for understanding the invention, and are not meant to be limiting in any fashion.

In this specification and in the claims that follow, reference will be made to a number of terms, which shall be defined to have the following meanings:

The term “alkyl” as used herein refers to a linear, branched, or cyclic saturated hydrocarbon group, typically, although not necessarily, containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms, generally, containing 1 to 24 carbon atoms, typically, 1 to 12 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, t-butyl, octyl, decyl, and the like, as well as cycloalkyl groups such as cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and the like. The term “lower alkyl” intends an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and the specific term “cycloalkyl” intends a cyclic alkyl group, typically, having 4 to 8, preferably 5 to 7, carbon atoms. The term “substituted alkyl” refers to alkyl substituted with one or more substituent groups, and the terms “heteroatom-containing alkyl” and “heteroalkyl” refer to alkyl in which at least one carbon atom is replaced with a heteroatom. If not otherwise indicated, the terms “alkyl” and “lower alkyl” include linear, branched, cyclic, unsubstituted, substituted, and/or heteroatom-containing alkyl and lower alkyl, respectively.

The term “alkylene” as used herein refers to a divalent linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group, where “alkyl” is as defined herein.

The term “alkenyl” as used herein refers to a linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbon group of 2 to 30 carbon atoms containing at least one double bond, such as ethenyl, n-propenyl, iso-propenyl, n-butenyl, iso-butenyl, octenyl, decenyl, tetradecenyl, hexadecenyl, eicosenyl, tetracosenyl, and the like. Generally, “alkenyl” groups herein contain 2 to 24 carbon atoms, typically, “alkenyl” groups herein contain 2 to 12 carbon atoms. The term “lower alkenyl” intends an “alkenyl” group of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and the specific term “cycloalkenyl” intends a cyclic “alkenyl” group, typically, having 5 to 8 carbon atoms. The term “substituted alkenyl” refers to “alkenyl” substituted with one or more substituent groups, and the terms “heteroatom-containing alkenyl” and “heteroalkenyl” refer to “alkenyl” in which at least one carbon atom is replaced with a heteroatom. If not otherwise indicated, the terms “alkenyl” and “lower alkenyl” include linear, branched, cyclic, unsubstituted, substituted, and/or heteroatom-containing “alkenyl” and lower “alkenyl,” respectively. The term “alkenyl” is used interchangeably with the term “olefin” herein.

The term “alkenylene” as used herein refers to a divalent linear, branched, or cyclic alkenyl group, where “alkenyl” is as defined herein.

The term “alkynyl” as used herein refers to a linear or branched hydrocarbon group of 2 to 30 carbon atoms containing at least one triple bond, such as ethynyl, n-propynyl, and the like. Generally, “alkynyl” groups herein contain 2 to 24 carbon atoms; typical “alkynyl” groups described herein contain 2 to 12 carbon atoms. The term “lower alkynyl” intends an “alkynyl” group of 2 to 6 carbon atoms. The term “substituted alkynyl” refers to “alkynyl” substituted with one or more substituent groups, and the terms “heteroatom-containing alkynyl” and “heteroalkynyl” refer to “alkynyl” in which at least one carbon atom is replaced with a heteroatom. If not otherwise indicated, the terms “alkynyl” and “lower alkynyl” include linear, branched, unsubstituted, substituted, and/or heteroatom-containing “alkynyl” and lower “alkynyl,” respectively.

The term “alkoxy” as used herein refers to an alkyl group bound through a single, terminal ether linkage; that is, an “alkoxy” group can be represented as —O-alkyl where alkyl is as defined herein. A “lower alkoxy” group refers to an alkoxy group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Analogously, “alkenyloxy” and “lower alkenyloxy” respectively refer to an alkenyl and lower alkenyl group bound through a single, terminal ether linkage, and “alkynyloxy” and “lower alkynyloxy,” respectively, refer to an alkynyl and lower alkynyl group bound through a single, terminal ether linkage.

The term “aryl” as used herein, and unless otherwise specified, refers to an aromatic substituent containing a single aromatic ring or multiple aromatic rings that are fused together, directly linked, or indirectly linked (such that the different aromatic rings are bound to a common group such as a methylene or ethylene moiety). “Aryl” groups contain 5 to 30 carbon atoms, generally, “aryl” groups contain 5 to 20 carbon atoms; and, typically, “aryl” groups contain 5 to 14 carbon atoms. Exemplary “aryl” groups contain one aromatic ring or two fused or linked aromatic rings, e.g., phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, diphenylether, diphenylamine, benzophenone, and the like. “Substituted aryl” refers to an aryl moiety substituted with one or more substituent groups; for example 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (i.e., mesityl or Mes), 2-methyl-phenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl (i.e., DIPP or DiPP), 2-isopropyl-phenyl (i.e., IPP, Ipp, or ipp), 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl (i.e., MIPP, Mipp, or MiPP). The terms “heteroatom-containing aryl” and “heteroaryl” refer to “aryl” substituents in which at least one carbon atom is replaced with a heteroatom, as will be described in further detail infra.

The term “aryloxy” as used herein refers to an aryl group bound through a single, terminal ether linkage, wherein “aryl” is as defined herein. An “aryloxy” group can be represented as —O-aryl where aryl is as defined herein. Preferred “aryloxy” groups contain 5 to 24 carbon atoms, and particularly preferred “aryloxy” groups contain 5 to 14 carbon atoms. Examples of “aryloxy” groups include, without limitation, phenoxy, o-halo-phenoxy, m-halo-phenoxy, p-halo-phenoxy, o-methoxy-phenoxy, m-methoxy-phenoxy, p-methoxy-phenoxy, 2,4-dimethoxy-phenoxy, 3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenoxy, and the like.

The term “alkaryl” refers to an aryl group with an alkyl substituent, and the term “aralkyl” refers to an alkyl group with an aryl substituent, wherein “aryl” and “alkyl” are as defined herein. “Alkaryl” and “aralkyl” groups contain 6 to 30 carbon atoms; generally, “alkaryl” and “aralkyl” groups contain 6 to 20 carbon atoms; and, typically, “alkaryl” and “aralkyl” groups contain 6 to 16 carbon atoms. “Alkaryl” groups include, for example, p-methylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, p-cyclohexylphenyl, 2,7-dimethylnaphthyl, 7-cyclooctylnaphthyl, 3-ethyl-cyclopenta-1,4-diene, and the like. Examples of “aralkyl” groups include, without limitation, benzyl, 2-phenyl-ethyl, 3-phenyl-propyl, 4-phenyl-butyl, 5-phenyl-pentyl, 4-phenylcyclohexyl, 4-benzylcyclohexyl, 4-phenylcyclohexylmethyl, 4-benzylcyclohexylmethyl, and the like. The terms “alkaryloxy” and “aralkyloxy” refer to substituents of the formula —OR wherein R is “alkaryl” or “aralkyl,” respectively, as defined herein.

The term “acyl” refers to substituents having the formula —(CO)-alkyl, —(CO)-aryl, or —(CO)-aralkyl, and the term “acyloxy” refers to substituents having the formula —O(CO)-alkyl, —O(CO)-aryl, or —O(CO)-aralkyl, wherein “alkyl,” “aryl,” and “aralkyl” are as defined herein.

The terms “cyclic” and “ring” refer to alicyclic or aromatic groups that may or may not be substituted and/or heteroatom containing, and that can be monocyclic, bicyclic, or polycyclic. The term “alicyclic” is used in the conventional sense to refer to an aliphatic cyclic moiety, as opposed to an aromatic cyclic moiety, and can be monocyclic, bicyclic, or polycyclic.

The terms “halo,” “halogen,” and “halide” are used in the conventional sense to refer to a chloro, bromo, fluoro, or iodo substituent.

The term “hydrocarbyl” refers to univalent “hydrocarbyl” moieties containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms, typically, containing 1 to 24 carbon atoms, specifically containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, including linear, branched, cyclic, saturated, and unsaturated species, such as alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, aryl groups, and the like. The term “lower hydrocarbyl” intends a “hydrocarbyl” group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, typically, 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and the term “hydrocarbylene” intends a divalent “hydrocarbyl” moiety containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms, typically, 1 to 24 carbon atoms, specifically 1 to 12 carbon atoms, including linear, branched, cyclic, saturated, and unsaturated species. The term “lower hydrocarbylene” intends a “hydrocarbylene” group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms. “Substituted hydrocarbyl” refers to “hydrocarbyl” substituted with one or more substituent groups, and the terms “heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl” and “heterohydrocarbyl” refer to hydrocarbyl in which at least one carbon atom is replaced with a heteroatom. Similarly, “substituted hydrocarbylene” refers to “hydrocarbylene” substituted with one or more substituent groups, and the terms “heteroatom-containing hydrocarbylene” and “heterohydrocarbylene” refer to “hydrocarbylene” in which at least one carbon atom is replaced with a heteroatom. Unless otherwise indicated, the term “hydrocarbyl” and “hydrocarbylene” are to be interpreted as including substituted and/or heteroatom-containing “hydrocarbyl” and “hydrocarbylene” moieties, respectively.

The term “heteroatom-containing” as in a “heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl group” refers to a hydrocarbon molecule or a hydrocarbyl molecular fragment in which one or more carbon atoms is replaced with an atom other than carbon, e.g., nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, or silicon, typically, nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur. Similarly, the term “heteroalkyl” refers to an alkyl substituent that is heteroatom-containing, the term “heterocyclic” refers to a cyclic substituent that is heteroatom-containing, the terms “heteroaryl” and “heteroaromatic,” respectively, refer to “aryl” and “aromatic” substituents that are heteroatom-containing, and the like. It should be noted that a “heterocyclic” group or compound may or may not be aromatic, and further that “heterocycles” can be monocyclic, bicyclic, or polycyclic as described herein with respect to the term “aryl.” Examples of heteroalkyl groups include alkoxyaryl, alkylsulfanyl-substituted alkyl, N-alkylated amino alkyl, and the like. Examples of heteroaryl substituents include pyrrolyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyridinyl, quinolinyl, indolyl, pyrimidinyl, imidazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, tetrazolyl, etc.

By “substituted” as in “substituted hydrocarbyl,” “substituted alkyl,” “substituted aryl,” and the like, as alluded to in some of the aforementioned definitions, it is meant that in the hydrocarbyl, alkyl, aryl, or other moiety, at least one hydrogen atom bound to a carbon (or other) atom is replaced with one or more non-hydrogen substituents. Examples of such substituents include, without limitation: functional groups referred to herein as “Fn,” such as halo, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl, C₁-C₂₄alkoxy, C₂-C₂₄alkenyloxy, C₂-C₂₄alkynyloxy, C₅-C₂₄aryloxy, C₆-C₂₄aralkyloxy, C₆-C₂₄alkaryloxy, acyl (including C₂-C₂₄alkylcarbonyl (—CO-alkyl) and C₆-C₂₄arylcarbonyl (—CO-aryl)), acyloxy (—O-acyl, including C₂-C₂₄alkylcarbonyloxy (—O—CO-alkyl) and C₆-C₂₄arylcarbonyloxy (—O—CO-aryl)), C₂-C₂₄alkoxycarbonyl (—(CO)—O-alkyl), C₆-C₂₄aryloxycarbonyl (—(CO)—O-aryl), halocarbonyl (—(CO)—X where X is halo), C₂-C₂₄alkylcarbonato (—O—(CO)—O-alkyl), C₆-C₂₄arylcarbonato (—O—(CO)—O-aryl), carboxyl (—COOH), carboxylato (—COO⁻), carbamoyl (—(CO)—NH₂), mono-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl (—(CO)—NH(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)), di-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted carbamoyl (—(CO)—N(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)₂), mono-(C₅-C₂₄aryl)-substituted carbamoyl (—(CO)—NH-aryl), di-(C₅-C₂₄aryl)-substituted carbamoyl (—(CO)—N(C₅-C₂₄aryl)₂), thiocarbamoyl (—(CS)—NH₂), mono-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted thiocarbamoyl (—(CS)—NH(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)), di-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted thiocarbamoyl (—(CS)—N(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)₂), mono-(C₅-C₂₄aryl)-substituted thiocarbamoyl (—(CS)—NH-aryl), di-(C₅-C₂₄aryl)-substituted thiocarbamoyl (—(CS)—N(C₅-C₂₄aryl)₂), carbamido (—NH—(CO)—NH₂), cyano(—C≡N), cyanato (—O—C≡N), thiocyanato (—S—C≡N), formyl (—(CO)—H), thioformyl (—(CS)—H), amino (—NH₂), mono-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted amino, di-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-substituted amino, mono-(C₅-C₂₄aryl)-substituted amino, di-(C₅-C₂₄aryl)-substituted amino, (C₁-C₂₄alkyl)(C₅-C₂₄aryl)-substituted amino, (C₂-C₂₄alkyl)-amido (—NH—(CO)-alkyl), (C₆-C₂₄aryl)-amido (—NH—(CO)-aryl), imino (—CR═NH where R is hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄alkyl, C₅-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, etc.), (C₂-C₂₀alkyl)-imino (—CR═N(alkyl), where R is hydrogen, C₁-C₂₄alkyl, C₅-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, etc.), arylimino (—CR═N(aryl), where R is hydrogen, C₁-C₂₀alkyl, C₅-C₂₄aryl, C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, etc.), nitro (—NO₂), nitroso (—NO), sulfo (—SO₂—OH), sulfonato (—SO₂—O⁻), (C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-sulfanyl (—S-alkyl; also termed “alkylthio”), (C₅-C₂₄aryl)-sulfanyl (—S-aryl; also termed “arylthio”), (C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-sulfinyl (—(SO)-alkyl), (C₅-C₂₄aryl)-sulfinyl (—(SO)-aryl), (C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-sulfonyl (—SO₂-alkyl), mono-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-aminosulfonyl —SO₂—N(H)alkyl), di-(C₁-C₂₄alkyl)-aminosulfonyl —SO₂—N(alkyl)₂, (C₅-C₂₄aryl)-sulfonyl (—SO₂-aryl), boryl (—BH₂), borono (—B(OH)₂), boronato (—B(OR)₂where R is alkyl or other hydrocarbyl), phosphono (—P(O)(OH)₂), phosphonato (—P(O)(O⁻)₂), phosphinato (—P(O)(O⁻)), phospho (—PO₂), and phosphino (—PH₂); and the hydrocarbyl moieties C₁-C₂₄alkyl (preferably C₁-C₁₂alkyl, more preferably C₁-C₆alkyl), C₂-C₂₄alkenyl (preferably C₂-C₁₂alkenyl, more preferably C₂-C₆alkenyl), C₂-C₂₄alkynyl (preferably C₂-C₁₂alkynyl, more preferably C₂-C₆alkynyl), C₅-C₂₄aryl (preferably C₅-C₁₄aryl), C₆-C₂₄alkaryl (preferably C₆-C₁₆alkaryl), and C₆-C₂₄aralkyl (preferably C₆-C₁₆aralkyl).

By “Grubbs-Hoveyda ligands,” it is meant benzylidene ligands having a chelating alkyloxy group attached to the benzene ring at the ortho position.

The term “sulfoxide group” refers to —[S(O)]—.

By “functionalized” as in “functionalized hydrocarbyl,” “functionalized alkyl,” “functionalized olefin,” “functionalized cyclic olefin,” and the like, it is meant that in the hydrocarbyl, alkyl, olefin, cyclic olefin, or other moiety, at least one hydrogen atom bound to a carbon (or other) atom is replaced with one or more functional groups such as those described herein. The term “functional group” is meant to include any functional species that is suitable for the uses described herein. In particular, as used herein, a functional group would necessarily possess the ability to react with or bond to corresponding functional groups on a substrate surface.

In addition, the aforementioned functional groups may, if a particular group permits, be further substituted with one or more additional functional groups or with one or more hydrocarbyl moieties such as those specifically enumerated herein. Analogously, the herein-mentioned hydrocarbyl moieties can be further substituted with one or more functional groups or additional hydrocarbyl moieties such as those specifically enumerated.

“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described circumstance can or cannot occur, so that the description includes instances where the circumstance occurs and instances where it does not. For example, the phrase “optionally substituted” means that a non-hydrogen substituent can or cannot be present on a given atom, and, thus, the description includes structures wherein a non-hydrogen substituent is present and structures wherein a non-hydrogen substituent is not present.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst, represented by the structure of Formula (I):

wherein

M is a Group 8 transition metal; generally, M is ruthenium or osmium; typically, M is ruthenium;

L¹and L²are independently neutral electron donor ligands;

n is 0 or 1; typically, n is 0;

m is 0, 1, or 2; typically, m is 0;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

X¹and X²are independently anionic ligands; generally, X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; typically, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F;

R¹and R²are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R¹is hydrogen and R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst, represented by the structure of Formula (I), wherein:

M is a Group 8 transition metal; generally, M is ruthenium or osmium; typically, M is ruthenium;

L¹and L²are independently neutral electron donor ligands;

n is 0 or 1; typically, n is 0;

m is 0, 1, or 2; typically, m is 0;

R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

X¹and X²are independently anionic ligands; generally, X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; typically, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F;

R¹and R²are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R¹is hydrogen and R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst, represented by the structure of Formula (II):

wherein:

M is a Group 8 transition metal; generally, M is ruthenium or osmium; typically, M is ruthenium;

L¹is a carbene;

L²is a neutral electron donor ligand;

n is 0 or 1; typically, n is 0;

m is 0, 1, or 2; typically, m is 0;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R¹and R²are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R¹is hydrogen and R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

X³and X⁴are independently O or S; and

R^x, B^y, R^w, and R^zare independently hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^x, R^y, R^w, and R^zare independently hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^x, R^y, R^w, and R^zare independently C₁-C₆alkyl, hydrogen, unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or halogen; or R^xand R^yare linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl; or R^wand R^zare linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl; or R^yand R^ware linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst, represented by the structure of Formula (II), wherein:

M is Ru;

L¹is a carbene;

n is 0;

m is 0;

R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl; or

R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

R¹is hydrogen and R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

X³and X⁴are each S; and

R^x, R^y, R^w, and R^zare independently hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^x, R^y, R^w, and R^zare independently C₁-C₆alkyl, hydrogen, unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or halogen; or R^xand R^yare linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl; or R^wand R^zare linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl; or R^yand R^ware linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst, represented by the structure of Formula (III):

wherein:

M is a Group 8 transition metal; generally, M is ruthenium or osmium; typically, M is ruthenium;

L²is a neutral electron donor ligand;

n is 0 or 1; typically, n is 0;

m is 0, 1, or 2; typically, m is 0;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

X¹and X²are independently anionic ligands; generally, X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; typically, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F; and

R¹and R²are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R¹is hydrogen and R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

X and Y are independently C, CR^3a, N, O, S, or P; only one of X or Y can be C or CR^3a; typically, X and Y are each N;

Q¹, Q², R³, R^3aand R⁴are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, Q¹, Q², R³, R^3a, and R⁴are optionally linked to X or Y via a linker such as unsubstituted hydrocarbylene, substituted hydrocarbylene, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbylene, substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbylene, or —(CO)—; typically, Q¹, Q², R³, R^3a, and R⁴are directly linked to X or Y; and

p is 0 when X is O or S, p is 1 when X is N, P, or CR^3a, and p is 2 when X is C; q is 0 when Y is O or S, q is 1 when Y is N, P, or CR^3a, and q is 2 when X is C.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst, represented by the structure of Formula (III), wherein:

M is a Group 8 transition metal; generally, M is ruthenium or osmium; typically, M is ruthenium;

L²is a neutral electron donor ligand;

n is 0 or 1; typically, n is 0;

m is 0, 1, or 2; typically, m is 0;

R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

X¹and X²are independently anionic ligands; generally, X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; typically, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F; and

R¹and R²are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R¹is hydrogen and R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

X and Y are independently C, CR^3a, N, O, S, or P; only one of X or Y can be C or CR^3a; typically, X and Y are each N;

Q¹, Q², R³, R^3aand R⁴are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, Q¹, Q², R³, R^3a, and R⁴are optionally linked to X or Y via a linker such as unsubstituted hydrocarbylene, substituted hydrocarbylene, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbylene, substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbylene, or —(CO)—; typically, Q¹, Q², R³, R^3a, and R⁴are directly linked to X or Y; and

p is 0 when X is O or S, p is 1 when X is N, P, or CR^3a, and p is 2 when X is C; q is 0 when Y is O or S, q is 1 when Y is N, P, or CR^3a, and q is 2 when X is C.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst, represented by the structure of Formula (IV):

wherein:

M is a Group 8 transition metal; generally, M is ruthenium or osmium; typically, M is ruthenium;

L²is a neutral electron donor ligand;

n is 0 or 1;

m is 0, 1, or 2;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; or IV and R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

X¹and X²are independently anionic ligands;

R¹and R²are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

X and Y are independently C, CR^3a, or N; and only one of X or Y can be C or CR^3a;

R^3ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl;

Q is a two-atom linkage having the structure —[CR¹¹R¹²]_s—[CR¹³R¹⁴]_t— or [CR¹¹═CR¹³]—;

R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl;

“s” and “t” are independently 1 or 2;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; and

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl.

In one embodiment of Formula (IV), any two or more of X¹, X², L², R¹, and R²are optionally linked together to form a cyclic group, including bidentate or multidentate ligands; or any one or more of X¹, X², L², R¹, and R²is/are optionally attached to a support.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst, represented by the structure of Formula (IV):

M is a Group 8 transition metal; generally, M is ruthenium or osmium; typically, M is ruthenium;

L²is a neutral electron donor ligand;

n is 0 or 1; typically, n is 0;

m is 0, 1, or 2; typically, m is 0;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

X¹and X²are independently anionic ligands; generally, X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; typically, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F;

R¹and R²are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R¹is hydrogen and R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

X and Y are independently C, CR^3a, or N; only one of X or Y can be C or CR^3a; typically, X and Y are each N;

R^3ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl;

Q is a linker, typically, unsubstituted hydrocarbylene, substituted hydrocarbylene, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbylene, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbylene; generally, Q is a two-atom linkage having the structure —[CR¹¹R¹²]_s—[CR¹³R¹⁴]_t— or [CR¹¹═CR¹³]—; typically, Q is —[CR¹¹R¹²]_s—[CR¹³R¹⁴]_t—, wherein R¹¹, R¹², R¹³and R¹⁴are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³and R¹⁴are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted C₁-C₁₂alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₁₂heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₁₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₁₄aryl; “s” and “t” are independently 1 or 2; typically, “s” and “t” are each 1; or any two of R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are optionally linked together to form a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated ring structure;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted (C₅-C₂₄aryl), (C₅-C₂₄aryl) substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-methyl-6-tert-butylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2,6-di-ethylphenyl, 2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl, 2,4,6-trifluorophenyl, 3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 2,6-difluorophenyl, 2-fluoro-6-methylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl; and

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted (C₅-C₂₄aryl), or (C₅-C₂₄aryl) substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-methyl-6-tert-butylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2,6-di-ethylphenyl, 2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl, 2,4,6-trifluorophenyl, 3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 2,6-difluorophenyl, 2-fluoro-6-methylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl; or when X is CR^3a, then R^3aand R⁴can form together a five to ten membered cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring, with the carbon atom to which they are attached.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst, represented by the structure of Formula (IV), wherein:

M is a Group 8 transition metal; generally, M is ruthenium or osmium; typically, M is ruthenium;

L²is a neutral electron donor ligand;

n is 0 or 1; typically, n is 0;

m is 0, 1, or 2; typically, m is 0;

R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

X¹and X²are independently anionic ligands; generally, X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; typically, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F;

R¹and R²are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R¹is hydrogen and R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

X and Y are independently C, CR^3a, or N; only one of X or Y can be C or CR^3a; typically, X and Y are each N;

R^3ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl;

Q is a linker, typically, unsubstituted hydrocarbylene, substituted hydrocarbylene, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbylene, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbylene; generally, Q is a two-atom linkage having the structure —[CR¹¹R¹²]_s—[CR¹³R¹⁴]_t— or [CR¹¹═CR¹³]—; typically, Q is —[CR¹¹R¹²]_s—[CR¹³R¹⁴]_t—, wherein R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³and R¹⁴are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted C₁-C₁₂alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₁₂heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₁₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₁₄aryl; “s” and “t” are independently 1 or 2; typically, “s” and “t” are each 1; or any two of R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are optionally linked together to form a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated ring structure;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted (C₅-C₂₄aryl), (C₅-C₂₄aryl) substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R³is adamantyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl; and

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted (C₅-C₂₄aryl), or (C₅-C₂₄aryl) substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst, represented by the structure of Formula (IV), wherein:

M is Ru;

n is 0;

m is 0;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; or R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; generally, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F;

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

X and Y are each N;

Q is —(CH₂—CH₂)— (i.e., a two-atom linkage having the structure —[CR¹¹R¹²]_s[CR¹³R¹⁴]_t—; wherein R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are independently hydrogen; and “s” and “t” are each 1);

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; and

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide.

Therefore, the olefin metathesis catalyst of Formula (IV) can also be represented by the structure of Formula (V):

wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; generally, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F; typically, X¹and X²are each Cl;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl; and

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst represented by the structure of Formula (V), wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group; typically, R^aand R^bare linked together to form a tetrahydrothiophene oxide;

X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; generally, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F; typically, X¹and X²are each Cl;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl; and

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst represented by the structure of Formula (V), wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl;

R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; or IV and R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

X¹and X²are independently halogen;

R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; and

R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst represented by the structure of Formula (V), wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl;

R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, or phenyl;

R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, or phenyl; or IV and R^bare linked together to form a tetrahydrothiophene oxide;

X¹and X²are each Cl; and

R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl; and

R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst represented by the structure of Formula (V), wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is phenyl, 2-iso-propoxy-phenyl (i.e.,

or 2-methyl-1-propenyl (i.e., —CH═C(CH₃)₂or

or R¹and R²are linked together to form 3-phenylinden-1-ylidene (i.e.,

R^ais hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, or phenyl;

X¹and X²are each Cl;

R³is phenyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, adamantyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2-methyl-phenyl, or 2-isopropyl-6-methyl phenyl; and

R⁴is phenyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2-methyl-phenyl, or 2-isopropyl-6-methyl phenyl.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst represented by the structure of Formula (V), wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is phenyl, 2-iso-propoxy-phenyl, or 2-methyl-1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form 3-phenylinden-1-ylidene;

R^aand R^bare linked together to form with the sulfoxide group a tetrahydrothiophene oxide;

X¹and X²are each Cl;

R³is phenyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, adamantyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2-methyl-phenyl, or 2-isopropyl-6-methyl phenyl; and

R⁴is phenyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2-methyl-phenyl, or 2-isopropyl-6-methyl phenyl.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst represented by the structure of Formula (V), wherein:

R¹and R²are linked together to form 3-phenylinden-1-ylidene;

R^ais methyl;

R^bis methyl;

X¹and X²are each Cl;

R³is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl; and

R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl.

Non-limiting examples of olefin metathesis catalysts represented by the structure of Formula (V) are described in Table (1), wherein X¹is Cl and X²is Cl.

adamantyl is

2-Me-C₆H₅is

Me is methyl, n-Bu is butyl [CH₃—(CH₂)₃—], Ph is phenyl, and

is [(CH₂)₄—].

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst represented by the structure of Formula (IV), wherein:

M is Ru;

n is 0;

m is 0;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; or R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; generally, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F;

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

X and Y are each N;

Q is —(CH═CH)— (i.e., a two-atom linkage having the structure —[CR¹¹═CR¹³]—; wherein R¹¹and R¹³are hydrogen);

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; and

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide.

Therefore, the olefin metathesis catalyst of Formula (IV), can also be represented by the structure of Formula (VI):

wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; or IV and R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; generally, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F; typically, X¹and X²are each Cl;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl; and

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst represented by the structure of Formula (VI), wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is phenyl, 2-iso-propoxy-phenyl, or 2-methyl-1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form 3-phenylinden-1-ylidene;

R^ais hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, or phenyl;

X¹and X²are each Cl; and

R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl; and

R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst represented by the structure of Formula (VI), wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F; typically, X¹and X²are each Cl;

R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl; and

R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl.

Non-limiting examples of olefin metathesis catalysts represented by the structure of Formula (VI) are described in Table (2), wherein X¹is Cl and X²is Cl.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst represented by the structure of Formula (IV), wherein:

M is Ru;

n is 0;

m is 0;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl; or R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; typically, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F;

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

Y is N;

X is CR^3a;

R^3ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; or R^3aand R⁴can form together a five to ten membered cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring, with the carbon atom to which they are attached;

Q is a two-atom linkage having the structure —[CR¹¹R¹²]_s—[CR¹³R¹⁴]_t—; wherein R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted C₁-C₁₂alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₁₂heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₁₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₁₄aryl; “s” and “t” are each 1;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted (C₅-C₂₄aryl), (C₅-C₂₄aryl) substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; and

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted (C₅-C₂₄aryl), or (C₅-C₂₄aryl) substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; or R^3aand R⁴can form together a five to ten membered cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring, with the carbon atom to which they are attached.

Therefore, the olefin metathesis catalyst of Formula (IV), can also be represented by the structure of Formula (VII):

wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl; or R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; generally, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F; typically, X¹and X²are each Cl;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-methyl-6-tert-butylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2,6-di-ethylphenyl, 2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted C₁-C₁₂alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₁₂heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₄-C₁₂cycloalkyl, substituted C₄-C₁₂cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄heteroaralkyl, or substituted C₆-C₂₄heteroaralkyl; typically, R¹¹and R¹²are each methyl and R¹³and R¹⁴are each hydrogen;

R^3ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^3ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₂alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂alkyl, unsubstituted C₄-C₁₂cycloalkyl, substituted C₄-C₁₂cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄heteroaralkyl, or substituted C₆-C₂₄heteroaralkyl; typically, R^3ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, or phenyl; and

R⁴is hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₁-C₁₂alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₂alkyl, unsubstituted C₄-C₁₂cycloalkyl, substituted C₄-C₁₂cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄heteroaralkyl, or substituted C₆-C₂₄heteroaralkyl; typically, R⁴is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, or phenyl; or R⁴together with R^3acan form a five- to ten-membered cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring, with the carbon atom to which they are attached.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst represented by the structure of Formula (VII), wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is phenyl, 2-iso-propoxy-phenyl, or 2-methyl-1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form 3-phenylinden-1-ylidene;

R^ais hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, or phenyl;

X¹and X²are each Cl; and

R³is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2,6-di-ethylphenyl, 2-methyl-6-tert-butylphenyl, 2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R¹¹and R¹²are each methyl;

R¹³and R¹⁴are each hydrogen;

R^3ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, or phenyl; and

R⁴is methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, or phenyl; or R^3aand R⁴form together a five-, six-, or ten-membered cycloalkyl or heterocycle ring, with the carbon atom to which they are attached.

Non-limiting examples of olefin metathesis catalysts represented by the structure of Formula (VII) are described in Table (3), wherein X¹is Cl, X²is Cl, R¹¹is methyl, R¹²is methyl, R¹³is hydrogen, and R¹⁴is hydrogen.

In another embodiment of Formula (IV), the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst wherein:

M is a Group 8 transition metal; generally, M is ruthenium or osmium; typically, M is ruthenium;

L²is a neutral electron donor ligand;

n is 0 or 1; typically, n is 0;

m is 0, 1, or 2; typically, m is 0;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl; or IV and R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

X and Y are independently C, CR^3a, or N; and only one of X or Y can be C or CR^3a;

R^3ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl;

Q is a two-atom linkage having the structure —[CR¹¹R¹²]_s—[CR¹³R¹⁴]_t— or [CR¹¹═CR¹³]—;

R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl;

“s” and “t” are independently 1 or 2;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl;

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl;

R¹and R²are independently hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

the moiety

X³and X⁴are independently O or S; and

R^x, R^y, R^w, and R^zare independently hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; or R^xand R^yare linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl; or R^wand R^zare linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl; or R^yand R^ware linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl.

In another embodiment of Formula (IV), the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst wherein:

M is Ru;

n is 0;

m is 0;

R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl; or IV and R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

X and Y are each N;

Q is a two-atom linkage having the structure —[CR¹¹R¹²]_s—[CR¹³R¹⁴]_t—;

R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are independently C₁-C₆alkyl or hydrogen; generally, R¹¹is hydrogen or methyl, R¹²is hydrogen or methyl, R¹³is hydrogen, and R¹⁴is hydrogen; typically, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are each hydrogen;

“s” and “t” are each 1;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl;

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl;

R¹is hydrogen and R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

the moiety

X³and X⁴are each S; and

R^x, R^y, R^w, and R^zare independently C₁-C₆alkyl, hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted phenyl, or substituted phenyl; generally, R^xis methyl, hydrogen, or Cl, R^yis hydrogen, R^wis hydrogen, and R^zis Cl, t-butyl, hydrogen, or phenyl; or R^xand R^yare linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl; or R^wand R^zare linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl; or R^yand R^ware linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl.

Therefore, the olefin metathesis catalyst of Formula (IV), can also be represented by the structure of Formula (VIII):

wherein:

R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl; or R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-methyl-6-tert-butylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2,6-di-ethylphenyl, 2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl, 2,4,6-trifluorophenyl, 2,6-difluorophenyl, 3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-methyl-6-tert-butylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2,6-di-ethylphenyl, 2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl, 2,4,6-trifluorophenyl, 2,6-difluorophenyl, 3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R¹is hydrogen and R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are independently C₁-C₆alkyl or hydrogen; generally, R¹¹is hydrogen or methyl, R¹²is hydrogen or methyl, R¹³is hydrogen, and R¹⁴is hydrogen; typically, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are independently hydrogen;

R^x, R^y, R^w, and R^zare independently C₁-C₆alkyl, hydrogen, halogen, unsubstituted phenyl, or substituted phenyl; generally, R^xis methyl, hydrogen or Cl, R^yis hydrogen, R^wis hydrogen, and R^zis Cl, t-butyl, hydrogen, or phenyl; or R^xand R^yare linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl; or R^wand R^zare linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl; or R^yand R^ware linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl.

In one embodiment, the invention provides an olefin metathesis catalyst represented by the structure of Formula (VIII), wherein:

R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl; or IV and R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group;

R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-methyl-6-tert-butylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2,6-di-ethylphenyl, 2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl, 2,4,6-trifluorophenyl, 3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 2,6-difluorophenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-methyl-6-tert-butylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, 2,6-di-ethylphenyl, 2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl, 2,4,6-trifluorophenyl, 3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl, 2,4-dimethylphenyl, 2,6-difluorophenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R¹is hydrogen and R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene;

R¹¹is hydrogen or methyl, R¹²is hydrogen or methyl, R¹³is hydrogen, and R¹⁴is hydrogen; typically, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³, and R¹⁴are each hydrogen;

R^xis methyl, hydrogen, or Cl, R^yis hydrogen, R^wis hydrogen, and R^zis Cl, t-butyl, hydrogen, or phenyl; or R^xand R^yare linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl; or R^wand R^zare linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl; or R^yand R^ware linked together to form an unsubstituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl or a substituted bicyclic or polycyclic aryl.

Non-limiting examples of olefin metathesis catalysts represented by the structure of Formula (VIII) are described in Table (4), wherein R^ais methyl, R^bis methyl, R¹¹is hydrogen, R¹²is hydrogen, R¹³is hydrogen, R¹⁴is hydrogen, R^yis hydrogen, and R^wis hydrogen.

The present invention also concerns processes for synthesizing the olefin metathesis catalysts of the invention. The olefin metathesis catalysts according to the invention can be prepared analogously to conventional methods as understood by the person skilled in the art of synthetic organic chemistry. For example, synthetic Scheme 1, set forth below, illustrates how the compounds according to the invention can be made.

In a typical procedure, an olefin metathesis catalyst of general Formula (A) is reacted at room temperature with tosyl chloride (TsCl) and an excess of sulfoxide derivative (R^aR^bSO) to produce an olefin metathesis catalyst of general Formula (V), wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene; typically, R²is phenyl, 2-iso-propoxy-phenyl, or 2-methyl-1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form 3-phenyl-1-indenylidene;

X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; generally, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F; typically, X¹and X²are each Cl;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl; or IV and R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group; and

R^j, R^t, and R^oare each independently substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl; generally, R¹, R^t, and R^oare each independently unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^j, R^t, and R^oare each phenyl.

In another embodiment, the invention concerns methods of using the olefin metathesis catalysts of the invention in the synthesis of related olefin metathesis catalysts. The ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts bearing sulfoxide labile ligands of the invention are excellent precursors for various Second Generation Grubbs ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts. The Second Generation Grubbs ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts synthesized during these procedures are obtained in higher yield and with higher purity, which presents an advantage compared to the existing synthetic procedures.

For example, synthetic Scheme 2, set forth below, illustrates how olefin metathesis catalysts of Formula (F) can be synthesizing from an olefin metathesis catalyst of Formula (IV):

In a typical procedure, as shown in Scheme 2, the sulfoxide ligand of the olefin metathesis catalyst represented by Formula (IV) can be exchanged with “L” ligand, which is a neutral electron donor. R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R, X¹, X², M, Q, n, m, R^a, R^b, and L²are as defined herein. “L” is selected from the group consisting of sulphonated phosphine, phosphite, phosphinite, phosphonite, ether, amine, carbonyl, nitrosyl, pyridine, thioether, Grubbs-Hoveyda ligands, trimethylphosphine (PMe₃), triethylphosphine (PEt₃), tri-n-butylphosphine (PBu₃), tri(ortho-tolyl)phosphine (P-o-tolyl₃), tri-tert-butylphosphine (P-tert-Bu₃), tricyclopentylphosphine (PCp₃), tricyclohexylphosphine (PCy₃), triisopropylphosphine (P-i-Pr₃), trioctylphosphine (POct₃), triisobutylphosphine, (P-i-Bu₃), triphenylphosphine (PPh₃), tri(pentafluorophenyl)phosphine (P(C₆F₅)₃), methyldiphenylphosphine (PMePh₂), dimethylphenylphosphine (PMe₂Ph), diethylphenylphosphine (PEt₂Ph), phosphabicycloalkane (e.g., monosubstituted 9-phosphabicyclo-[3.3.1]nonane, monosubstituted 9-phosphabicyclo[4.2.1]nonane, cyclohexylphoban, isopropylphoban, ethylphoban, methylphoban, butylphoban, pentylphoban), pyridine, 3-bromopyridine, 4-bromopyridine, 3,5-dibromopyridine, 2,4,6-tribromopyridine, 2,6-dibromopyridine, 3-chloropyridine, 4-chloropyridine, 3,5-dichloropyridine, 2,4,6-trichloropyridine, 2,6-dichloropyridine, 4-iodopyridine, 3,5-diiodopyridine, 3,5-dibromo-4-methylpyridine, 3,5-dichloro-4-methylpyridine, 3,5-dimethyl-4-bromopyridine, 3,5-dimethylpyridine, 4-methylpyridine, 3,5-di-iso-propylpyridine, 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine, 2,4,6-triisopropylpyridine, 4-(tert-butyl)pyridine, 4-phenylpyridine, 3,5-diphenylpyridine, 3,5-dichloro-4-phenylpyridine, bipyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, bipyridamine, pyrazine, 1,3,5-triazine, 1,2,4-triazine, 1,2,3-triazine, pyrrole, 2H-pyrrole, 3H-pyrrole, pyrazole, 2H-imidazole, 1,2,3-triazole, 1,2,4-triazole, indole, 3H-indole, 1H-isoindole, cyclopenta(b)pyridine, indazole, quinoline, bisquinoline, isoquinoline, bisisoquinoline, cinnoline, quinazoline, naphthyridine, piperidine, piperazine, pyrrolidine, pyrazolidine, quinuclidine, imidazolidine, picolylimine, purine, benzimidazole, bisimidazole, phenazine, acridine, carbazole, sulfur-containing heterocycles (e.g., thiophene, 1,2-dithiole, 1,3-dithiole, thiepine, benzo(b)thiophene, benzo(c)thiophene, thionaphthene, dibenzothiophene, 2H-thiopyran, 4H-thiopyran, thioanthrene), oxygen-containing heterocycles (e.g. 2H-pyran, 4H-pyran, 2-pyrone, 4-pyrone, 1,2-dioxin, 1,3-dioxin, oxepin, furan, 2H-1-benzopyran, coumarin, coumarone, chromene, chroman-4-one, isochromen-1-one, isochromen-3-one, xanthene, tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxan, dibenzofuran), mixed (e.g., isoxazole, oxazole, thiazole, isothiazole, 1,2,3-oxadiazole, 1,2,4-oxadiazole, 1,3,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,3,4-oxatriazole, 1,2,3,5-oxatriazole, 3H-1,2,3-dioxazole, 3H-1,2-oxathiole, 1,3-oxathiole, 4H-1,2-oxazine, 2H-1,3-oxazine, 1,4-oxazine, 1,2,5-oxathiazine, o-isooxazine, phenoxazine, phenothiazine, pyrano[3,4-b]pyrrole, indoxazine, benzoxazole, anthranil, and morpholine), aromatic nitrogen-containing and oxygen-containing heterocycles, monocyclic N-heteroaryl ligands that are optionally substituted with 1 to 3, preferably 1 or 2, substituents.

The ligand exchange reactions are carried out under inert atmosphere (under nitrogen or argon). The reactions generally, are carried out at room temperature or at temperatures from 15° C. to 25° C. or from 25° C. to 60° C., or from 35° C. to 50° C., or from 20° C. to 25° C., or from 30° C. to 40° C., or from 25° C. to 45° C. The reaction times vary from several minutes to several hours 12 hours, 24 hours, or 48 hours. Generally, the reactions take place in solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), benzene, toluene, xylene, diethyl ether, dioxane, alcohols, methyl-tetrahydrofuran, acetone, ethyl acetate, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), dimethylformamide (DMF), and dichloromethane.

In another embodiment, the invention concerns also processes for synthesizing olefin metathesis catalysts of Formula (B) starting with an olefin metathesis catalyst of Formula (V):

In a typical procedure, as shown in Scheme 3, the sulfoxide ligand of the olefin metathesis catalyst represented by Formula (V) is exchanged with a PR^dR^eOR^fligand at room temperature in an inert solvent, such as dichloromethane or toluene, wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene; typically, R²is phenyl, 2-iso-propoxy-phenyl, or 2-methyl-1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form 3-phenyl-1-indenylidene;

X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; generally, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F; typically, X¹and X²are each Cl;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl; or R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group; typically, R^aand R^bare linked together to form a tetrahydrothiophene oxide;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R^dis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, or unsubstituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl; generally, Rd is unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl; typically, Rd is phenyl;

R^eis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, or unsubstituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl; generally, Re is unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl; typically, Re is phenyl; and

R^fis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, or unsubstituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl; generally, R^fis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl; typically, R^fis phenyl, methyl, p-(OMe)phenyl, iso-propyl, or ethyl.

In another embodiment, the invention concerns also processes for synthesizing olefin metathesis catalysts of Formula (C) starting with an olefin metathesis catalyst of Formula (V):

In a typical procedure, as shown in Scheme 4, the sulfoxide ligand of the olefin metathesis catalyst represented by Formula (V) can be exchanged with a PR^gOR^hORⁱligand at room temperature in an inert solvent, such as dichloromethane or toluene, wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene; typically, R²is phenyl, 2-iso-propoxy-phenyl, or 2-methyl-1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form 3-phenyl-1-indenylidene;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl; or R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group; typically, R^aand R^bare linked together to form a tetrahydrothiophene oxide;

X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; generally, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F; typically, X¹and X²are each Cl;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R^gis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, or unsubstituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl; generally, R^gis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl; typically, R^gis phenyl;

R^his unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, or unsubstituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl; generally, R^his unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl; typically, R^his phenyl or methyl; and

Rⁱis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, or unsubstituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl; generally, R′ is unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl; typically, R′ is phenyl or methyl.

In another embodiment, the invention concerns also processes for synthesizing olefin metathesis catalysts of Formula (D) starting with an olefin metathesis catalyst of Formula (V):

In a typical procedure as shown in Scheme 5, the sulfoxide ligand of the olefin metathesis catalyst represented by Formula (V) is exchanged with a Grubbs-Hoveyda ligand at 60° C. in ethyl acetate, wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene; typically, R²is phenyl, 2-iso-propoxy-phenyl, or 2-methyl-1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form 3-phenyl-1-indenylidene;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl; or IV and R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group; typically, IV and R^bare linked together to form a tetrahydrothiophene oxide;

X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; generally, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F; typically, X¹and X²are each Cl;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R^kis hydrogen, halogen, —NO₂, —CN, —CF₃, —SO₂NR^s₂, —NHC(O)CF₃, —NHC(O)C₆F₅, —NHC(O)OtBu, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R^kis hydrogen;

R^lis hydrogen, halogen, —NO₂, —CN, —CF₃, SO₂NR^s₂, —NHC(O)CF₃, —NHC(O)C₆F₅, —NHC(O)OtBu, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R^lis hydrogen;

R^mis hydrogen, halogen, —NO₂, —CN, —CF₃, —SO₂NR^s₂, —NHC(O)CF₃, —NHC(O)C₆F₅, —NHC(O)OtBu, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R^mis hydrogen, —NO₂, —CN, —CF₃, —SO₂NR^s₂, —NHC(O)CF₃, —NHC(O)C₆F₅, or —NHC(O)OtBu; preferably, R^mis hydrogen;

Rⁿis hydrogen, halogen, —NO₂, —CN, —CF₃, SO₂NR^s₂, —NHC(O)CF₃, —NHC(O)C₆F₅, —NHC(O)OtBu, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; typically, R^ais hydrogen;

R^sis hydrogen or C₁-C₆alkyl; typically, R^sis hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, or n-propyl; and

R^qis unsubstituted hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl; generally, R^qis C₁-C₁₀alkyl; typically, R^qis iso-propyl.

In another embodiment, the invention concerns also processes for synthesizing olefin metathesis catalysts of Formula (E) starting with an olefin metathesis catalyst of Formula (V).

In a typical procedure, as shown in Scheme 6, the sulfoxide ligand of the olefin metathesis catalyst represented by Formula (V) can be exchanged with a P(R^q)₃ligand at room temperature in an inert solvent, such as dichloromethane or toluene, wherein:

R¹is hydrogen;

R²is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R²is unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl, or substituted 1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form an optionally substituted indenylidene; typically, R²is phenyl, 2-iso-propoxy-phenyl, or 2-methyl-1-propenyl; or R¹and R²are linked together to form 3-phenyl-1-indenylidene;

R^ais hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^ais unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^ais methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl;

R^bis hydrogen, unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R^bis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl; typically, R^bis methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclohexyl, or phenyl; or R^aand R^bare linked together to form a five or a six heterocyclic membered ring with the sulfoxide group; typically, R^aand R^bare linked together to form a tetrahydrothiophene oxide;

X¹and X²are independently halogen, trifluoroacetate, per-fluorophenolate, thiolate, alkylthio, arylthio, or nitrate; generally, X¹and X²are independently Cl, Br, I, or F; typically, X¹and X²are each Cl;

R³is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R³is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R³is adamantyl, 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl;

R⁴is unsubstituted hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, unsubstituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl, or substituted heteroatom-containing hydrocarbyl; generally, R⁴is unsubstituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, substituted C₃-C₁₀cycloalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, or C₅-C₂₄aryl substituted with up to three substituents selected from: unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀alkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, substituted C₁-C₂₀heteroalkyl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄aryl, unsubstituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, substituted C₅-C₂₄heteroaryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, substituted C₆-C₂₄aralkyl, unsubstituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, substituted C₆-C₂₄alkaryl, and halide; typically, R⁴is 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl, 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-6-methylphenyl, 2-iso-propyl-phenyl, or 2-methyl-phenyl; and

R^pis unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₁-C₁₀alkyl, substituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, or unsubstituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl; generally, R^pis substituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, unsubstituted C₆-C₁₀aryl, substituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, or unsubstituted C₃-C₈cycloalkyl; typically, R^pis phenyl, cyclohexyl, or cyclopentyl.

At this stage, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many additional compounds that fall under the scope of the invention can be prepared by performing various common chemical reactions. Details of certain specific chemical transformations are provided in the examples.

The metal carbene olefin metathesis catalysts can be utilized in olefin metathesis reactions according to techniques known in the art. For example, the metal carbene olefin metathesis catalysts are typically added to a resin composition as a solid, a solution, or as a suspension. When the metal carbene olefin metathesis catalysts are added to a resin composition as a suspension, the metal carbene olefin metathesis catalysts are suspended in a dispersing carrier such as mineral oil, paraffin oil, soybean oil, tri-iso-propylbenzene, or any hydrophobic liquid which has a sufficiently high viscosity so as to permit effective dispersion of the catalyst(s), and which is sufficiently inert and which has a sufficiently high boiling point so that is does not act as a low-boiling impurity in the olefin metathesis reaction. It will be appreciated that the amount of catalyst that is used (i.e., the “catalyst loading”) in the reaction is dependent upon a variety of factors such as the identity of the reactants and the reaction conditions that are employed. It is therefore understood that catalyst loading can be optimally and independently chosen for each reaction. In general, however, the catalyst will be present in an amount that ranges from a low of about 0.1 ppm, 1 ppm, or 5 ppm, to a high of about 10 ppm, 15 ppm, 25 ppm, 50 ppm, 100 ppm, 200 ppm, 500 ppm, or 1000 ppm relative to the amount of an olefinic substrate (e.g., cyclic olefins).

Resin compositions that may be used with the present invention disclosed herein comprise one or more cyclic olefins. Such cyclic olefins may be optionally substituted, optionally heteroatom-containing, mono-unsaturated, di-unsaturated, or poly-unsaturated C₅to C₂₄hydrocarbons that may be mono-, di-, or poly-cyclic. The cyclic olefin may generally be any strained or unstrained cyclic olefin, provided the cyclic olefin is able to participate in a ROMP reaction either individually or as part of a ROMP cyclic olefin composition.

Examples of bicyclic and polycyclic olefins thus include, without limitation, dicyclopentadiene (DCPD); trimer and other higher order oligomers of cyclopentadiene including without limitation tricyclopentadiene (cyclopentadiene trimer), cyclopentadiene tetramer, and cyclopentadiene pentamer; ethylidenenorbornene; dicyclohexadiene; norbornene; C₂-C₁₂hydrocarbyl substituted norbornenes; 5-butyl-2-norbornene; 5-hexyl-2-norbornene; 5-octyl-2-norbornene; 5-decyl-2-norbornene; 5-dodecyl-2-norbornene; 5-vinyl-2-norbornene; 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene; 5-isopropenyl-2-norbornene; 5-propenyl-2-norbornene; 5-butenyl-2-norbornene; 5-tolyl-norbornene; 5-methyl-2-norbornene; 5-ethyl-2-norbornene; 5-isobutyl-2-norbornene; 5,6-dimethyl-2-norbornene; 5-phenyl norbornene; 5-benzylnorbornene; 5-acetylnorbornene; 5-methoxycarbonylnorbornene; 5-ethyoxycarbonyl-1-norbornene; 5-methyl-5-methoxycarbonylnorbornene; bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid, 2-ethylhexyl ester; 5-cyanonorbornene; 5,5,6-trimethyl-2-norbornene; cyclo-hexenylnorbornene; endo, exo-5,6-dimethoxynorbornene; endo, endo-5,6-dimethoxynorbornene; endo, exo-5,6-dimethoxy carbonylnorbornene; endo,endo-5,6-dimethoxycarbonylnorbornene; 2,3-dimethoxynorbornene; norbornadiene; tricycloundecene; tetracyclododecene; 8-methyl tetracyclododecene; 8-ethyltetracyclododecene; 8-methoxy carbonyltetracyclo dodecene; 8-methyl-8-tetra cyclododecene; 8-cyanotetracyclo dodecene; pentacyclopentadecene; pentacyclo hexadecene; bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene-5-phenoxymethyl; 2-ethylhexyl ester-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid; 2-hydroxyethyl ester-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid; bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-methanol; bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-heptanoic acid-methyl ester; bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-hexanoic acid-methyl ester; 1,4:5,8-dimethanonaphthalene, 2-hexyl-1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro; bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-octanoic acid-methyl ester; 1,4:5,8-dimethano naphthalene; 2-butyl-1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro; ethylidenetetracyclododecene; 2-vinyl-1,2,3,4,4a,5,8,8a-octahydro-1,4:5,8-dimethano naphthalene; and the like, and their structural isomers, stereoisomers, and mixtures thereof.

In the following examples, efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to numbers used (e.g., amounts, temperature, etc.) but some experimental error and deviation should be accounted for. The examples are to be considered as not being limiting of the invention described herein. Surprisingly, the olefin metathesis catalysts of the invention were obtained only in the cis configuration, no traces of the trans stereoisomers were detected.

All reactions involving metal complexes were conducted in oven-dried glassware under an argon or nitrogen atmosphere using standard Schlenk techniques. Chemicals and solvents were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, Strem, Alfa Aesar, Nexeo, Brenntag, A G Layne and TCI. Commercially available reagents were used as received unless otherwise noted. Silica gel was purchased from Fisher (0.040-0.063 μm, EMD Millipore).

The crystallographic measurements were performed at 100(2) K using a Bruker APEXII CCD area detector diffractometer (Mo-K_α radiation, λ=0.71073 Å). In each case, a specimen of suitable size and quality was selected and mounted onto a nylon loop. The structures were solved by direct methods, which successfully located most of the non-hydrogen atoms. Semi-empirical absorption corrections were applied. Subsequent refinement on F²using the SHELXTL/PC package (version 6.1) allowed location of the remaining non-hydrogen atoms.

Ultrene® 99 dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) was obtained from Cymetech Corporation. A modified DCPD base resin containing 20-25% tricyclopentadiene (and small amounts of higher cyclopentadiene homologs) (DCPD-HT) was prepared by heat treatment of Ultrene® 99 DCPD generally as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,005.

Catalysts C931, C933, C793, C827, C705, C727, C748, and C848 were prepared using known methods.

¹H and¹³C NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian 400 MHz spectrometer. Chemical shifts are reported in ppm downfield from Me₄Si by using the residual solvent peak as an internal standard (CDCl₃δ 7.24 ppm). Spectra were analyzed and processed using MestReNova software.

General GC method conditions: injection temperature, 250° C.; detector temperature, 280° C.; oven temperature, starting temperature, 100° C.; hold time, 1 min. The ramp rate was 10° C./min to 250° C., hold time 12 min; carrier gas helium.

GC Method 1: Column: DB-225, 30 m×0.25 mm (ID)×0.25 μm film thickness. Manufacturer: Agilent; GC and column conditions: Injector temperature: 220° C., Detector temperature: 220° C.; Oven temperature: Starting temperature: 35° C., hold time: 0.5 minutes.

Ramp rate 10° C./min to 130° C., hold time: 0 minutes. Ramp rate 20° C./min to 220° C., hold time: 5 minutes. Carrier gas: Helium. Mean gas velocity: 25 cm/sec. Split ratio: 20:1.

The following abbreviations are used in the examples:

mL milliliter
DCM/CH₂Cl₂dichloromethane
C₆D₆deuterated benzene
CDCl₃deuterated chloroform
CD₂Cl₂deuterated dichloromethane

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  DMSO dimethylsulfoxide
  PCy₃tricyclohexylphosphine
  EtOAc ethylacetate
  MTBE methyl tert-butyl ether
  THF tetrahydrofuran
  CHP cumene hydroperoxide
  5C14 5-tetradecene
  5C10 5-decene
  9C18 9-octadecene

To a 20 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar were added C931 (0.500 g, 0.537 mmol), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (0.051 g, 0.268 mmol), dimethyl sulfoxide (0.210 g, 2.68 mmol), and dichloromethane (4 mL). The reaction was stirred for one hour then filtered through a plug of celite and combined with diethyl ether (30 mL). The resulting black precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with diethyl ether (2×10 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C747 as a black powder (0.346 g, 86.3% yield). The X-ray structure of C747 is shown in FIG. 1.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.68 (d, J=7.4 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 7.52 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 1H), 7.42 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.31 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 1H), 7.25 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 1H), 7.11 (d, J=6.1 Hz, 2H), 7.04 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 6.86 (s, 1H), 6.26 (d, J=3.8 Hz, 2H), 4.13-3.99 (m, 1H), 3.99-3.80 (m, 2H), 3.80-3.69 (m, 1H), 2.82 (s, 3H), 2.69 (s, 3H), 2.68 (s, 3H), 2.41 (s, 3H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 2.11 (s, 3H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 1.77 (s, 3H).

To a 40 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar were added C848 (0.500 g, 0.589 mmol), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (0.056 g, 0.30 mmol), dimethyl sulfoxide (0.230 g, 2.94 mmol), and dichloromethane (4 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for one hour then filtered through a plug of celite and combined with diethyl ether (30 mL). The resulting purple precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with diethyl ether (2×10 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C647_mas a purple crystalline solid (0.269 g, 70.7% yield). The X-ray structure of C647_mis shown in FIG. 2.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, C₆D₆) δ 16.03 (s, 1H), 8.15 (d, J=25.0 Hz, 2H), 7.21 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 1H), 7.00 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 6.84 (s, 1H), 6.75 (s, 1H), 6.65 (s, 1H), 6.17 (s, 1H), 3.33-3.00 (m, 4H), 2.87 (s, 3H), 2.67 (s, 3H), 2.61 (s, 3H), 2.22 (s, 3H), 2.14 (s, 3H), 2.07 (s, 3H), 2.04 (s, 3H), 1.98 (s, 3H).

To a 40 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar were added C933 (0.500 g, 0.536 mmol), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (0.051 g, 0.27 mmol), dimethyl sulfoxide (0.209 g, 2.68 mmol), and ethyl acetate (10 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for three hours affording a fine blue-gray precipitate. The solid was isolated by filtration, washed with ethyl acetate (2×5 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C731 as a blue-gray solid (0.148 g, 37.8% yield).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, C₆D₆): δ 16.16 (s, 1H), 7.99 (s, 2H), 7.31-7.01 (m, 6H), 6.94 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 6.65 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 4.63-4.48 (m, 1H), 4.07-3.92 (m, 1H), 3.76-3.60 (m, 2H), 3.60-3.44 (m, 3H), 3.42-3.27 (m, 1H), 1.97 (s, 3H), 1.87 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 3H), 1.72 (s, 3H), 1.67 (d, J=6.7 Hz, 3H), 1.65 (d, J=6.8 Hz, 3H), 1.20 (d, J=6.3 Hz, 3H), 1.12 (d, J=6.3 Hz, 3H), 1.04 (d, J=6.1 Hz, 3H), 0.88 (d, J=6.5 Hz, 3H), 0.77 (d, J=5.7 Hz, 3H).

To a 40 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar were added C793 (0.500 g, 0.631 mmol), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (0.060 g, 0.32 mmol), dimethyl sulfoxide (0.246 g, 3.15 mmol), and methyl tert-butyl ether (10 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for four hours affording a purple precipitate. The solid was isolated by filtration then recrystallized from dichloromethane and diethyl ether. The resulting purple crystals were isolated by filtration, washed with diethyl ether (2×5 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C591 as a purple crystalline solid (0.234 g, 62.7% yield). Two isomers [87:13], which are not stereoisomers, were observed in solution.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₂Cl₂, major isomer) δ 15.82 (s, 1H), 8.72 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.78 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.56 (dd, J=16.6, 8.1 Hz, 2H), 7.52-7.39 (m, 2H), 7.24 (t, J=7.9 Hz, 3H), 7.15 (d, J=7.9 Hz, 1H), 6.96 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 6.45 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 4.59-4.47 (m, 1H), 4.22 (q, J=10.1 Hz, 1H), 3.90 (q, J=10.4 Hz, 1H), 3.83-3.72 (m, 1H), 2.67 (s, 3H), 2.59 (s, 3H), 2.29 (s, 3H), 1.90 (s, 3H).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₂Cl₂, minor isomer, selected resonances) δ 16.02 (s, 1H), 8.91 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 1H), 7.73 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 3H), 6.90-6.84 (m, 1H), 4.43-4.34 (m, 1H), 2.40 (s, 3H), 2.01 (s, 3H), 1.96 (s, 3H).

To a 40 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar were added C827 (0.500 g, 0.605 mmol), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (0.058 g, 0.30 mmol), dimethyl sulfoxide (0.236 g, 3.02 mmol), and methyl tert-butyl ether (10 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for twenty four hours and the resulting brown precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with methyl tert-butyl ether (2×10 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C625 as a light brown solid (0.298 g, 78.8% yield).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 16.10 (d, J=11.3 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J=11.2 Hz, 1H), 7.08 (s, 1H), 7.05 (s, 1H), 6.82 (s, 1H), 6.73 (s, 1H), 4.13-4.00 (m, 1H), 4.00-3.78 (m, 3H), 2.73 (s, 6H), 2.55 (s, 3H), 2.54 (s, 3H), 2.38 (s, 3H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 2.22 (s, 6H), 1.33 (s, 3H), 1.27 (s, 3H).

To a 40 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar was added C931 (0.500 g, 0.537 mmol), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (0.051 g, 0.27 mmol), tetrahydrothiophene 1-oxide (0.279 g, 2.68 mmol), and toluene (5 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for two hours then diluted with diethyl ether (15 mL). The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with diethyl ether (2×20 mL) followed by hexanes (1×20 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C865 (0.418 g, 90.0% yield).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.72 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 2H), 7.52 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 1H), 7.42 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.33-7.20 (m, 4H), 7.20-7.14 (m, 3H), 7.11 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.04 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 6.93 (s, 1H), 6.28 (s, 2H), 4.15-4.03 (m, 1H), 4.03-3.86 (m, 2H), 3.84-3.71 (m, 1H), 2.92-2.85 (m, 2H), 2.84 (s, 3H), 2.69 (s, 3H), 2.70-2.60 (m, 1H), 2.43 (s, 3H), 2.36 (s, 3H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 2.09 (s, 3H), 2.15-2.04 (m, 1H), 2.04-1.90 (m, 2H), 1.78 (s, 3H), 1.82-1.73 (m, 2H).

To a 40 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar was added C931 (0.500 g, 0.537 mmol), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (0.051 g, 0.27 mmol), tetrahydrothiophene 1-oxide (0.279 g, 2.68 mmol), and ethyl acetate (5 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for three hours then diluted with diethyl ether (25 mL). The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with diethyl ether (2×10 mL) followed by hexanes (1×20 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C861 (0.386 g, 83.5% yield).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.71 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.70 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 2H), 7.51 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.41 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 7.33-7.19 (m, 2H), 7.11 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 2H), 7.03 (d, J=7.1 Hz, 1H), 6.92 (s, 1H), 6.27 (s, 2H), 4.11 (dd, J=14.3, 7.1 Hz, 2H), 4.15-4.02 (m, 1H), 4.03-3.85 (m, 2H), 3.84-3.71 (m, 1H), 2.92-2.79 (m, 2H), 2.83 (s, 3H), 2.68 (s, 3H), 2.70-2.59 (m, 1H), 2.42 (s, 3H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 2.08 (s, 3H), 2.15-2.07 (m, 1H), 2.03 (s, 3H), 2.02-1.90 (m, 2H), 1.77 (s, 3H), 1.82-1.73 (m, 2H), 1.25 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H).

To a 40 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar was added C931 (0.500 g, 0.537 mmol), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (0.051 g, 0.27 mmol), tetrahydrothiophene 1-oxide (0.279 g, 2.68 mmol), and dichloromethane (4 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for three hours then diluted with diethyl ether (30 mL). The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with diethyl ether (2×10 mL) followed by hexanes (1×20 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C773 (0.345 g, 83.0% yield).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.71 (d, J=7.1 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 7.52 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 1H), 7.42 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 7.34-7.19 (m, 2H), 7.11 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.03 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 6.92 (s, 1H), 6.28 (s, 2H), 4.14-4.03 (m, 1H), 4.03-3.86 (m, 2H), 3.82-3.72 (m, 1H), 2.83 (s, 3H), 2.91-2.79 (m, 2H), 2.69 (s, 3H), 2.72-2.60 (m, 1H), 2.42 (s, 3H), 2.36 (s, 3H), 2.18-2.04 (m, 1H), 2.08 (s, 3H). 2.04-1.88 (m, 2H), 1.77 (s, 3H), 1.82-1.73 (m, 2H).

To a 40 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar was added C848 (0.500 g, 0.589 mmol), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (0.056 g, 0.30 mmol), tetrahydrothiophene 1-oxide (0.307 g, 2.94 mmol), and dichloromethane (4 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for one hour then diluted with diethyl ether (25 mL). The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with diethyl ether (2×10 mL) followed by hexanes (1×15 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C673 (0.248 g, 62.6% yield).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 16.12 (s, 1H), 7.82 (d, J=7.7 Hz, 2H), 7.55 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 7.23 (t, J=7.7 Hz, 2H), 7.11 (br s, 2H), 6.93 (s, 1H), 6.29 (s, 1H), 4.11-3.94 (m, 3H), 3.86-3.76 (m, 1H), 2.72 (s, 3H), 2.69 (s, 3H), 2.64 (s, 3H), 2.62-2.45 (m, 3H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 2.27-2.17 (m, 1H), 2.15 (s, 3H), 2.07 (s, 3H), 2.05-1.91 (m, 2H), 1.84-1.68 (m, 2H).

To a 40 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar was added C827 (0.500 g, 0.605 mmol), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (0.058 g, 0.30 mmol), tetrahydrothiophene 1-oxide (0.315 g, 3.02 mmol), and ethyl acetate (5 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for 16 hours. The precipitate was isolated by filtration and recrystallized from dichloromethane/methanol at −30° C. The resulting purple crystalline product was isolated by filtration, washed with dichloromethane/methanol (1:10, 2×5 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C651 (0.141 g, 35.7% yield).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 16.73 (d, J=11.3 Hz, 1H), 7.66 (d, J=11.5 Hz, 1H), 7.09 (s, 1H), 7.05 (s, 1H), 6.83 (s, 1H), 6.71 (s, 1H), 4.17-4.02 (m, 1H), 4.01-3.84 (m, 3H), 3.16-3.06 (m, 1H), 3.02-2.89 (m, 1H), 2.85-2.74 (m, 2H), 2.75 (s, 3H), 2.59 (s, 3H), 2.54 (s, 3H), 2.33 (s, 6H), 2.22 (s, 3H), 2.14-2.02 (m, 2H), 1.99-1.83 (m, 2H), 1.34 (s, 3H), 1.26 (s, 3H).

To a 40 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar was added C931 (0.500 g, 0.537 mmol), p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (0.051 g, 0.27 mmol), dibutyl sulfoxide (0.436 g, 2.69 mmol), and diethyl ether (10 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for twelve hours. The precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with diethyl ether (1×10 mL) followed by hexanes (1×20 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C831_m(0.195 g, 43.7% yield).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₂Cl₂) δ 8.68-8.60 (m, 1H), 7.77-7.69 (m, 2H), 7.57-7.50 (m, 1H), 7.44 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.35-7.28 (m, 2H), 7.15 (s, 1H), 7.13 (dd, J=5.6, 2.7 Hz, 1H), 7.07 (s, 1H), 6.77 (s, 1H), 6.36 (s, 1H), 6.21 (s, 1H), 4.06-3.95 (m, 1H), 3.94-3.81 (m, 2H), 3.78-3.65 (m, 1H), 2.94 (ddd, J=14.5, 12.3, 5.6 Hz, 1H), 2.77 (s, 3H), 2.70 (s, 3H), 2.64-2.51 (m, 1H), 2.47 (s, 3H), 2.36 (s, 3H), 1.95 (s, 3H), 1.73 (s, 3H), 1.71-1.60 (m, 1H), 1.60-1.43 (m, 2H), 1.33-1.19 (m, 2H), 1.19-1.03 (m, 2H), 0.98-0.91 (m, 2H), 0.88 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H), 0.83-0.70 (m, 1H), 0.48 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H).

To a 40 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar was added C747 (0.590 g, 0.790 mmol), (3,6-dichlorobenzene-1,2-dithiolato)(ethylenediamine)zinc(II) (0.291 g, 0.869 mmol), and tetrahydrofuran (8 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for one hour then concentrated to dryness. The resulting residue was extracted with dichloromethane (10 mL), filtered through a plug of celite, and then concentrated in vacuum to about 5 mL. Slow addition of hexanes (30 mL) with rapid stirring afforded a precipitate that was isolated by filtration, washed with hexanes (2×10 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C885_{ss (}0.604 g, 86.4% yield) as a dark purple powder.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₂Cl₂) δ 7.76 (d, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 7.55-7.40 (m, 3H), 7.31 (br s, 1H), 7.20 (br s, 1H), 7.12 (br s, 1H), 7.04 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 6.97 (d, J=6.7 Hz, 1H), 6.84 (br s, 1H), 6.74 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 6.31 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 6.19 (br s, 1H), 4.03 (br s, 1H), 3.92 (br s, 3H), 2.90 (br s, 3H), 2.64 (br s, 3H), 2.43 (br s, 6H), 2.26 (br s, 6H), 2.18 (br s, 3H), 1.78 (br s, 3H).

To a 40 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar was added C647 (0.300 g, 0.464 mmol), (3,6-dichlorobenzene-1,2-dithiolato)(ethylenediamine) zinc(II) (0.171 g, 0.510 mmol), and tetrahydrofuran (5 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for thirty minutes then concentrated to dryness. The resulting residue was extracted with dichloromethane (20 mL), passed through a 0.2 μm syringe filter, and then concentrated in vacuum to ca. 4 mL. Diethyl ether (30 mL) was added slowly affording a green microcrystalline precipitate. The product was isolated by filtration, washed with diethyl ether (2×5 mL) and dried in vacuum to afford C785_ss(0.283 g, 77.8% yield).

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₂Cl₂) δ 14.77 (s, 1H), 7.28 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 1H), 7.18 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 1H), 7.10 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.06 (s, 1H), 6.90-6.81 (m, 4H), 6.47 (d, J=7.3 Hz, 2H), 6.23 (s, 1H), 4.10-3.90 (m, 4H), 2.71 (s, 3H), 2.68 (s, 3H), 2.66 (s, 3H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 2.30 (s, 3H), 2.28 (s, 3H), 2.21 (s, 3H), 2.02 (s, 3H).

To a 20 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar were added C747 (0.500 g, 0.670 mmol), (PhO)PPh₂([CAS 13360-92-4] 0.196 g, 0.703 mmol), and dichloromethane (5 mL). The reaction was stirred at ambient temperature for one hour then concentrated to 1 mL under vacuum. Hexanes (14 mL) was added and the resulting precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with hexanes (2×10 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C947 as a red-brown powder (0.599 g, 94.5% yield). The¹H NMR data correspond to the data found in the literature.

To a 20 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar were added C747 (0.500 g, 0.670 mmol), 2-isopropoxy-β-methylstyrene (0.153 g, 0.870 mmol), heptanes (5 mL), and methanol (1 mL). The reaction was stirred at 60° C. for two hours then cooled to ambient temperature. The resulting precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with methanol (2×5 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C627 as a green solid (0.332 g, 79.1% yield). The¹H NMR data correspond to the data found in the literature.

To a 20 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar were added C647m (0.400 g, 0.619 mmol), 2-isopropoxy-P-methylstyrene (0.142 g, 0.804 mmol), heptanes (5 mL), and methanol (1 mL). The reaction was stirred at 60° C. for one hour then cooled to ambient temperature. The resulting precipitate was isolated by filtration, washed with methanol (2×5 mL) then dried in vacuum to afford C627 as a green solid (0.228 g, 58.9% yield). The¹H NMR data correspond to the data found in the literature.

To a 20 mL scintillation vial was added C747 (0.300 g, 0.402 mmol), internal olefin [stilbene or β-methylstyrene] (3.6-10 equiv), and halogenated solvent (chloroform or dichloromethane, 4 mL). Reactions were heated at 40 or 60° C. with stirring until <5% C747 remained as determined by¹H NMR spectroscopy (2 to 24 hours). PCy₃(0.124 g, 0.442 mmol) was subsequently added and the reaction stirred for an additional 30 minutes. Yields of C848 ranged from 50-80% as judged by¹H and³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The¹H NMR data correspond to the data found in the literature.

The catalytic activity of the complexes according to the invention was evaluated in ROMP reactions as follows. A 250 mL beaker was filled with 100 g of DCPD-HT monomer and 50 ppm of CHP. The monomer was equilibrated to the desired temperature in an oil bath (30° C.+/−0.5° C.). A J-Type thermocouple was suspended directly into the center of the monomer. The catalyst under study was dissolved in solvent (either toluene or CH₂Cl₂) to form a catalyst solution and the catalyst solution was then added to the monomer at a molar ratio of 45,000:1 (monomer:catalyst) to form a ROMP composition. Addition of the catalyst to the monomer to form the ROMP composition denoted the start of the ROMP reaction and hence, this was time point zero. Temperature readings were recorded using the thermocouple. The exotherm time was determined by measuring the amount of time that passed (i.e., the time difference) between time point zero and the time point that a propagating interface of the ROMP composition was first visually observed as the ROMP composition transitioned from a liquid state or gel state to a cured polymer state. ROMP reactions were stopped 2 hours after addition of the catalyst solution to the monomer. Time to exotherm is expressed by: slow>120 minutes; moderate 30-120 minutes; medium 1-<30 minutes; fast<1 minute and peak exotherm temperature. The results are shown in Table (5).

Following the procedure outlined in Organometallics, 2006, 25, 5740-5745, inside an argon filled glovebox, a screwcap NMR tube fitted with a PTFE septum was charged with CD₂C₁₂(0.75 mL or 0.775 mL) and catalyst stock solution (0.016 M, 50 μL, 0.80 μmol, 1.0 mol % or 0.016 M, 25 μL, 0.80 μmol, 0.5 mol %). Samples were equilibrated to 30° C. in a preheated NMR probe before diethyl 2,2-diallylmalonate (19.3 μL, 19.2 mg, 0.080 mmol, 0.1 M) was added via syringe. The ensuing reaction was monitored for 30 minutes using the Varian array function and the conversion to diethyl cyclopent-3-ene-1,1-dicarboxylate was determined by comparing the ratio of the integrals of the methylene protons in the starting material, δ 2.61 (dt), with those in the product, δ 2.98 (s). FIG. 3 shows the conversion of diethyl 2,2-diallylmalonate to 4,4-bis(ethoxy carbonyl)cyclopentene, wherein Catalyst is: C747, C748, C647, C773, C625, C727, or C705.

In an argon filled glovebox, a 4 mL scintillation vial equipped with a magnetic stir bar was charged with C785ss (0.0046 g, 0.0059 mmol) and tetrahydrofuran (0.5 mL). cis-5-Tetradecene (0.150 mL total, 0.588 mmol) was subsequently added, the vial was sealed and stirred at 40° C. The reaction was sampled at appropriate time intervals and yields/stereoselectivies were determined by gas chromatography (Method 1) as shown in Table (6).