Retracing the evolution of monometallic ruthenium-arene catalysts for C-C bond formation.
Preformed or in situ generated monometallic ruthenium-arene complexes with the generic formula RuX(2)(arene)(L) (L = phosphine or N-heterocyclic carbene) are versatile and efficient catalyst precursors for olefin metathesis and atom transfer radical reactions. Their synthesis is usually accomplished using simple and straightforward experimental procedures starting from the [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) dimer. This article retraces their evolution over the past 20 years and highlights similarities and differences with the parallel development of well-defined RuX(2)(=CHR)(L(1))(L(2)) ruthenium-alkylidene catalysts.
Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry and Homogeneous Catalysis, Institut de Chimie (B6a), Université de Liège, Sart-Tilman par 4000 Liège, Belgium. l.delaude@ulg.ac.be
Lionel
L
Delaude
Albert
A
Demonceau