Grubbs catalyst

Grubbs catalysts are a series of transition metal carbene complexes used as catalysts for olefin metathesis. They are named after Robert H. Grubbs, the chemist who supervised their synthesis. Several generations of the catalyst have also been developed. Grubbs catalysts tolerate many functional groups in the alkene substrates, are air-tolerant, and are compatible with a wide range of solvents. For these reasons, Grubbs catalysts have become popular in synthetic organic chemistry.

Grubbs, together with Richard R. Schrock and Yves Chauvin, won the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry in recognition of their contributions to the development of olefin metathesis.

First-generation Grubbs catalyst

First-generation Grubbs catalyst
Names
IUPAC name
Benzylidene-bis(tricyclohexylphosphino)-dichlororuthenium
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C43H72P2.2ClH.Ru/c1-8-22-36(23-9-1)43(44(37-24-10-2-11-25-37,38-26-12-3-13-27-38)39-28-14-4-15-29-39)45(40-30-16-5-17-31-40,41-32-18-6-19-33-41)42-34-20-7-21-35-42;;;/h1,8-9,22-23,37-43H,2-7,10-21,24-35H2;2*1H;/q+2;;;+2/p-2
    Key: NDDFAYQFCZRYDT-UHFFFAOYSA-L
  • Cl[Ru-2](Cl)([P+](C1CCCCC1)(C1CCCCC1)C1CCCCC1)([P+](C1CCCCC1)(C1CCCCC1)C1CCCCC1)=Cc1ccccc1
Properties
C43H72Cl2P2Ru
Molar mass 822.97 g·mol−1
Appearance Purple solid
Melting point 153 °C (307 °F; 426 K) (decomposition)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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In the 1960s, ruthenium trichloride was found to catalyze olefin metathesis. Processes were commercialized based on these discoveries. Ill-defined[how?] but highly active homogeneous catalysts based on this remain in industrial use.[specify]

The first well-defined ruthenium catalyst was reported in 1992. It was prepared from RuCl2(PPh3)4 and diphenylcyclopropene.

First Grubbs-type catalyst

This initial ruthenium catalyst was followed in 1995 by what is now known as the first-generation Grubbs catalyst. It is synthesized from RuCl2(PPh3)3, phenyldiazomethane, and tricyclohexylphosphine in a one-pot synthesis.

Preparation of the first-generation Grubbs catalyst

Second-generation Grubbs catalyst

Second-generation Grubbs catalyst
Names
IUPAC name
[1,3-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-2-imidazolidinylidene]dichloro(phenylmethylene)(tricyclohexylphosphino)ruthenium
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
  • InChI=1S/C21H26N2.C18H33P.C7H6.2ClH.Ru/c1-14-9-16(3)20(17(4)10-14)22-7-8-23(13-22)21-18(5)11-15(2)12-19(21)6;1-4-10-16(11-5-1)19(17-12-6-2-7-13-17)18-14-8-3-9-15-18;1-7-5-3-2-4-6-7;;;/h9-12H,7-8H2,1-6H3;16-18H,1-15H2;1-6H;2*1H;/q;;;;;+2/p-2
    Key: FCDPQMAOJARMTG-UHFFFAOYSA-L
  • Cl[Ru-2](Cl)([c+]0n(-c1c(C)cc(C)cc1C)CCn0-c1c(C)cc(C)cc1C)([P+](C1CCCCC1)(C1CCCCC1)C1CCCCC1)=Cc1ccccc1
Properties
C46H65Cl2N2PRu
Molar mass 848.98 g·mol−1
Appearance Pinkish brown solid
Melting point 143.5 to 148.5 °C (290.3 to 299.3 °F; 416.6 to 421.6 K)
Hazards
GHS labelling:[citation needed]
GHS02: Flammable
Warning
H228
P210, P240, P241, P280, P378
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

The second-generation catalyst has the same uses in organic synthesis as the first generation catalyst, but generally with higher activity.

The second-generation catalyst based on a saturated N-heterocyclic carbene (1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)dihydroimidazole) was reported in 1999:

Synthesis of the second–generation Grubbs catalyst

In both the saturated and unsaturated cases a phosphine ligand is replaced with an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC), which is characteristic of all second-generation-type catalysts.

Hoveyda–Grubbs catalysts

First-generation Hoveyda–Grubbs catalyst
Names
IUPAC name
Dichloro(o-isopropoxyphenylmethylene)(tricyclohexylphosphine)ruthenium(II)
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
  • InChI=1S/C18H33P.C10H12O.2ClH.Ru/c1-4-10-16(11-5-1)19(17-12-6-2-7-13-17)18-14-8-3-9-15-18;1-8(2)11-10-7-5-4-6-9(10)3;;;/h16-18H,1-15H2;3-8H,1-2H3;2*1H;/q;;;;+2/p-2
    Key: KMKCJXPECJFQPQ-UHFFFAOYSA-L
  • Cl[Ru-2]2(Cl)([P+](C1CCCCC1)(C1CCCCC1)C1CCCCC1)=Cc1ccccc1[O+]2C(C)C
Properties
C28H45Cl2OPRu
Molar mass 600.61 g·mol−1
Appearance Brown solid
Melting point 195 to 197 °C (383 to 387 °F; 468 to 470 K)
Hazards
GHS labelling:[citation needed]
GHS02: Flammable
Warning
H228
P210, P240, P241, P280, P378
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Second-generation Hoveyda–Grubbs catalyst
Names
IUPAC name
[1,3-Bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-2-imidazolidinylidene]dichloro(o-isopropoxyphenylmethylene)ruthenium
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
EC Number
  • 608-446-3
  • InChI=1S/C21H26N2.C10H12O.2ClH.Ru/c1-14-9-16(3)20(17(4)10-14)22-7-8-23(13-22)21-18(5)11-15(2)12-19(21)6;1-8(2)11-10-7-5-4-6-9(10)3;;;/h9-12H,7-8H2,1-6H3;3-8H,1-2H3;2*1H;/q;;;;+2/p-2
    Key: ZRPFJAPZDXQHSM-UHFFFAOYSA-L
  • Cl[Ru-2]2(Cl)([c+]0n(-c1c(C)cc(C)cc1C)CCn0-c1c(C)cc(C)cc1C)=Cc1ccccc1[O+]2C(C)C
Properties
C31H38Cl2N2ORu
Molar mass 626.63 g·mol−1
Appearance Green solid
Melting point 216 to 220 °C (421 to 428 °F; 489 to 493 K)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

In the Hoveyda–Grubbs catalysts, the benzylidene ligands have a chelating ortho-isopropoxy group attached to the benzene rings. The ortho-isopropoxybenzylidene moiety is sometimes referred to as a Hoveyda chelate. The chelating oxygen atom replaces a phosphine ligand, which in the case of the 2nd generation catalyst, gives a completely phosphine-free structure.

The 1st generation Hoveyda–Grubbs catalyst was reported in 1999. In the following year, the second-generation of the catalyst was described in nearly simultaneous publications by two independent lab groups.

The Hoveyda–Grubbs catalysts, while more expensive and slower to initiate than the Grubbs catalyst from which they are derived, are popular because of their improved stability. By changing the steric and electronic properties of the chelate, the initiation rate of the catalyst can be modulated, such as in the Zhan catalysts.

Hoveyda–Grubbs catalysts are easily formed from the corresponding Grubbs catalyst by the addition of the chelating ligand and the use of a phosphine scavenger like copper(I) chloride:

Preparation of the first-generation Hoveyda–Grubbs catalyst from the first-generation Grubbs catalyst
Preparation of the first-generation Hoveyda–Grubbs catalyst from the first-generation Grubbs catalyst

The second-generation Hoveyda–Grubbs catalysts can also be prepared from the 1st generation Hoveyda–Grubbs catalyst by the addition of the NHC:

Preparation of the second-generation Hoveyda–Grubbs catalyst from the second–generation Grubbs catalyst

In 2006, a water-soluble Grubbs catalyst was prepared by attaching a polyethylene glycol chain to the imidazolidine group. This catalyst is used in the ring-closing metathesis reaction in water of a diene carrying an ammonium salt group making it water-soluble as well.

Ring closing metathesis reaction in water

Third-generation Grubbs catalyst (fast-initiating catalysts)

The rate of the Grubbs catalyst can be altered by replacing the phosphine ligand with more labile pyridine ligands. By using 3-bromopyridine the initiation rate is increased more than a million times. Both pyridine and 3-bromopyridine are commonly used, with the bromo- version being 4.8 times more labile resulting in even faster rates. The catalyst is traditionally isolated as a two pyridine complex, however one pyridine is lost upon dissolving and reversibly inhibits the ruthenium center throughout any chemical reaction.

The principal application of the fast-initiating catalysts is as initiators for ring opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP). Because of their usefulness in ROMP these catalysts are sometimes referred to as the 3rd generation Grubbs catalysts. The high ratio of the rate of initiation to the rate of propagation makes these catalysts useful in living polymerization, yielding polymers with low polydispersity.

Applications

Grubbs catalysts are of interest for olefin metathesis. They are mainly applied to fine chemical synthesis. Large-scale commercial applications of olefin metathesis almost always employ heterogeneous catalysts or ill-defined systems based on ruthenium trichloride.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Vougioukalakis, G. C.; Grubbs, R. H. (2010). "Ruthenium-Based Heterocyclic Carbene-Coordinated Olefin Metathesis Catalysts". Chemical Reviews. 110 (3): 1746–1787. doi:10.1021/cr9002424. PMID 20000700.
  2. ↑ Trnka, T. M.; Grubbs, R. H. (2001). "The Development of L2X2Ru=CHR Olefin Metathesis Catalysts: An Organometallic Success Story". Accounts of Chemical Research. 34 (1): 18–29. doi:10.1021/ar000114f. PMID 11170353.
  3. ↑ Cossy, Janine; Arseniyadis, Stellios; Meyer, Christophe (2010). Metathesis in Natural Product Synthesis: Strategies, Substrates and Catalysts (1st ed.). Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. ISBN 978-3-527-32440-8.
  4. ↑ "The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2005". Nobel Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 January 2026. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  5. 1 2 Lionel Delaude; Alfred F. Noels (2005), "Metathesis", Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, New York: John Wiley, doi:10.1002/0471238961.metanoel.a01, ISBN 9780471238966
  6. ↑ Nguyen, S. T.; Johnson, L. K.; Grubbs, R. H.; Ziller, J. W. (1992). "Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene by a Group VIII carbene complex in protic media" (PDF). Journal of the American Chemical Society. 114 (10): 3974–3975. Bibcode:1992JAChS.114.3974N. doi:10.1021/ja00036a053.
  7. ↑ Schwab, P.; France, M. B.; Ziller, J. W.; Grubbs, R. H. (1995). "A Series of Well-Defined Metathesis Catalysts – Synthesis of [RuCl2(=CHR′)(PR3)2] and Its Reactions". Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 34 (18): 2039–2041. doi:10.1002/anie.199520391.
  8. ↑ Schwab, P.; Grubbs, R. H.; Ziller, J. W. (1996). "Synthesis and Applications of RuCl2(=CHR′)(PR3)2: The Influence of the Alkylidene Moiety on Metathesis Activity". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118 (1): 100–110. Bibcode:1996JAChS.118..100S. doi:10.1021/ja952676d.
  9. ↑ Scholl, M.; Ding, S.; Lee, C. W.; Grubbs, R. H. (1999). "Synthesis and Activity of a New Generation of Ruthenium-Based Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Coordinated with 1,3-Dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene Ligands". Org. Lett. 1 (6): 953–956. doi:10.1021/ol990909q. PMID 10823227.
  10. 1 2 3 Garber, S. B.; Kingsbury, J. S.; Gray, B. L.; Hoveyda, A. H. (2000). "Efficient and Recyclable Monomeric and Dendritic Ru-Based Metathesis Catalysts". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 122 (34): 8168–8179. Bibcode:2000JAChS.122.8168G. doi:10.1021/ja001179g.
  11. ↑ Kingsbury, Jason S.; Harrity, Joseph P. A.; Bonitatebus, Peter J.; Hoveyda, Amir H. (1999). "A Recyclable Ru-Based Metathesis Catalyst". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 121 (4): 791–799. Bibcode:1999JAChS.121..791K. doi:10.1021/ja983222u.
  12. 1 2 Gessler, S.; Randl, S.; Blechert, S. (2000). "Synthesis and metathesis reactions of phosphine-free dihydroimidazole carbene ruthenium complex". Tetrahedron Letters. 41 (51): 9973–9976. doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)01808-6.
  13. ↑ Antonova, A. S.; Zubkov, F. I. (2024). "Hoveyda-Grubbs type complexes with ruthenium-pnictogen/halcogen/halogen coordination bond. Synthesis, catalytic activity, applications". Russian Chemical Reviews. 93 (8) RCR5132. doi:10.59761/rcr5132. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  14. ↑ Engle, Keary M.; Lu, Gang; Luo, Shao-Xiong; Henling, Lawrence M.; Takase, Michael K.; Liu, Peng; Houk, K. N.; Grubbs, Robert H. (2015). "Origins of Initiation Rate Differences in Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Containing Chelating Benzylidenes". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 137 (17): 5782–5792. Bibcode:2015JAChS.137.5782E. doi:10.1021/jacs.5b01144. PMID 25897653.
  15. ↑ Luo, Shao-Xiong; Engle, Keary M.; Deng, Xiaofei; Hejl, Andrew; Takase, Michael K.; Henling, Lawrence M.; Liu, Peng; Houk, K. N.; Grubbs, Robert H. (2018). "An Initiation Kinetics Prediction Model Enables Rational Design of Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Bearing Modified Chelating Benzylidenes". ACS Catalysis. 8 (5): 4600–4611. doi:10.1021/acscatal.8b00843. PMC 7289044. PMID 32528741.
  16. ↑ Grubbs, Robert H.; Hong, Soon Hyeok (2006). "Highly Active Water-Soluble Olefin Metathesis Catalyst" (PDF). Journal of the American Chemical Society. 128 (11): 3508–3509. Bibcode:2006JAChS.128.3508H. doi:10.1021/ja058451c. PMID 16536510.
  17. ↑ Love, J. A.; Morgan, J. P.; Trnka, T. M.; Grubbs, R. H. (2002). "A Practical and Highly Active Ruthenium-Based Catalyst that Effects the Cross Metathesis of Acrylonitrile". Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 41 (21): 4035–4037. doi:10.1002/1521-3773(20021104)41:21<4035::AID-ANIE4035>3.0.CO;2-I. PMID 12412073.
  18. ↑ Walsh, Dylan J.; Lau, Sii Hong; Hyatt, Michael G.; Guironnet, Damien (2017-09-25). "Kinetic Study of Living Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization with Third-Generation Grubbs Catalysts". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 139 (39): 13644–13647. Bibcode:2017JAChS.13913644W. doi:10.1021/jacs.7b08010. PMID 28944665.
  19. ↑ Leitgeb, Anita; Wappel, Julia; Slugovc, Christian (2010). "The ROMP toolbox upgraded". Polymer. 51 (14): 2927–2946. doi:10.1016/j.polymer.2010.05.002.
  20. ↑ Choi, T.-L.; Grubbs, R. H. (2003). "Controlled Living Ring-Opening-Metathesis Polymerization by a Fast-Initiating Ruthenium Catalyst". Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 42 (15): 1743–1746. doi:10.1002/anie.200250632. PMID 12707895.
  21. ↑ Grela, Karol, ed. (2014). Olefin metathesis: theory and practice. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley. ISBN 978-1-118-71156-9.
  22. ↑ Matsuo, Takashi (March 2021). "Functionalization of Ruthenium Olefin-Metathesis Catalysts for Interdisciplinary Studies in Chemistry and Biology". Catalysts. 11 (3): 359. doi:10.3390/catal11030359. ISSN 2073-4344.