Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis of highly active ruthenium and osmium carbene metathesis catalyst in good yield from readily available starting materials. The catalysts that may be synthesized are of the general formula wherein: M is ruthenium or osmium; X and X1 are independently any anionic ligand; L and L1 are any neutral electron donor ligand; and, R and R1 are each hydrogen or one of the following substituent groups: C2-C20 alkenyl, C2-C20 alkynyl, C1-C20 alkyl, aryl, C1-C20 carboxylate, C1-C20 alkoxy, C2-C20 alkenyloxy, C2-C20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C2-C20 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-C20 alkylthio, C1-C20 alkylsulfonyl and C1-C20 alkylsulfinyl. Optionally, the substituent group may be substituted with one or more groups selected from C1-C5 alkyl, halogen, C1-C5alkoxy, and aryl. When the substitute aryl group is phenyl, it may be further substituted with one or more groups selected from a halogen, a C1-C5 alkyl, or a C1-C5 alkoxy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis of highly active ruthenium and osmium carbene metathesis catalyst in good yield from readily available starting materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis of highly active ruthenium and osmium carbene metathesis catalyst in good yield from readily available starting materials. The catalysts that may be synthesized are of the general formula wherein: M is ruthenium or osmium; X and X1 are independently any anionic ligand; L and L1 are any neutral electron donor ligand; and, R and R1 are each hydrogen or one of the following substituent groups: C2-C20 alkenyl, C2-C20 alkynyl, C1-C20 alkyl, aryl, C1-C20 carboxylate, C1-C20 alkoxy, C2-C20 alkenyloxy, C2-C20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C2-C20 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-C20 alkylthio, C1-C20 alkylsulfonyl and C1-C20 alkylsulfinyl. Optionally, the substituent group may be substituted with one or more groups selected from C1-C5 alkyl, halogen, C1-C5 alkoxy, and aryl. When the substitute aryl group is phenyl, it may be further substituted witn one or more groups selected from a halogen, a C1-C5 alkyl, or a C1-C5 alkoxy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis of highly active ruthenium and osmium carbene metathesis catalyst in good yield from readily available starting materials. The catalysts that may be synthesized are of the general formula ##STR1## wherein: M is ruthenium or osmium;X and X.sup.1 are independently any anionic ligand;L and L.sup.1 are any neutral electron donor ligand; and,R and R.sup.1 are each hydrogen or one of the following substituent groups: C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, aryl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 carboxylate, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkenyloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylsulfonyl and C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylsulfinyl. Optionally, the substituent group may be substituted with one or more groups selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkoxy, and aryl.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the use of certain ruthenium and osmium complexes that are substantially inactive at a first temperature (preferably about room temperature) but become progressively more active at a higher second temperature. This difference in reactivities allows the reaction mixture to be formed and manipulated at the first temperature until polymerization is desired. When appropriate, the reaction mixture is heated to a suitable temperature (preferably greater than 50.degree. C.) to activate the catalyst and to initiate polymerization. Because both the initiation and the rate of polymerization may be controlled with temperature, the inventive methods are especially suitable for ring opening metathesis polymerization ("ROMP") reactions and for molding polymer articles that require extended pot-lives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis of highly active ruthenium and osmium carbene metathesis catalyst in good yield from readily available starting materials. The catalysts that may be synthesized are of the general formula ##STR1## wherein: M is ruthenium or osmium;X and X.sup.1 are independently any anionic ligand;L and L.sup.1 are any neutral electron donor ligand; and,R and R.sup.1 are each hydrogen or one of the following substituent groups: C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, aryl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 carboxylate, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkenyloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylsulfonyl and C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylsulfinyl. Specific synthetic protocols for vinyl alkylidene catalysts wherein R is hydrogen and R.sup.1 is --CHCR.sup.12 R.sup.13 and non-vinyl alkylidene catalysts are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis of highly active ruthenium and osmium vinyl alkylidene catalysts. In one embodiment, the invention may be summarized by the following reaction scheme ##STR1## wherein n is 1 or 2;X and X.sup.1 are each anionic ligands;L and L.sup.1 are each neutral electron donors andR.sup.17 which is hydrogen, aryl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl; and,R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 are each hydrogen or one of the following substituent groups: C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.18 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.18 alkynyl, aryl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 carboxylate, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.18 alkenyloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.18 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.18 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkylsulfonyl and C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 alkylsulfinyl.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the use of certain ruthenium and osmium complexes that are substantially inactive at a first temperature (preferably about room temperature) but becomes progressively more active at a higher second temperature. This difference in reactivities allows the reaction mixture to be formed and manipulated at the first temperature until polymerization is desired. When appropriate, the reaction mixture is heated to a suitable temperature (preferably greater than 50° C.) to activate the catalyst and to initiate polymerization. Because both the initiation and the rate of polymerization may be controlled with temperature, the inventive methods are especially suitable for ring opening metathesis polymerization (“ROMP”) reactions and for molding polymer articles that require extended pot-lives.