Highly active, recoverable and recyclable transition metal-based metathesis
catalysts and their organometallic complexes including dendrimeric complexes are
disclosed, including a Ru complex bearing a 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene
and styrenyl ether ligand. The heterocyclic ligand significantly enhances the catalytic
activity, and the styrenyl ether allows for the easy recovery of the Ru complex.
Derivatized catalysts capable of being immobilized on substrate surfaces are also
disclosed. The present catalysts can be used to catalyze ring-closing metathesis
(RCM), ring-opening (ROM) and cross metatheses (CM) reactions, and promote the
efficient formation of various trisubstituted olefins at ambient temperature in
high yield.
