Synthesis Optimization and Catalytic Activity Screening of Industrially Relevant Ruthenium-Based Metathesis Catalysts

Olefin metathesis is a powerful catalytic reaction that has a huge potential in the pharmaceutical, polymer and specialty chemicals industries. Cost-effective industrial applications require large-scale availability of catalyst precursors which combine high activity, high selectivity and long life-time. Among the known numerous families of olefin metathesis catalysts, the Umicore M7-catalyst family represents a novel class of Hoveyda-type complexes showing excellent chemical stabilities and modular activity profiles. Relevant aspects related to their industrial synthesis as well as their catalytic performance in valuable olefin metathesis transformations are overviewed here.