Ruthenium carbene complexes, with the general structure, [LL’Ru=CHR], are commonly known as Grubbs type catalysts, named after the discoverer of these metathesis catalysts. The discovery was quite revolutionary, since the catalysts proved to be easy to handle, tolerant towards various functional groups and more stable with regard to air and water than previous transition metal catalysts. Another important advantage was that all types of olefin metathesis reactions could be initiated without the help of co-catalysts or promoters. Today Grubbs type catalysts find wide application in especially organic and synthetic chemistry. A well-known example is the SHOP-process which produces long chain -olefins, while other important applications include the synthesis of macro-cyclic and cyclic olefins. The current study involved experimental and theoretical work to investigate various aspects comprising synthetic procedures, reactivity, kinetics, geometry and electronic properties of the complexes. Results are discussed briefly in the following paragraphs. The first aim of the project was to synthesise a Grubbs type catalyst. Initial efforts were focused on the preparation of a first generation catalyst through various methods. This included modifying the reported method for the synthesis of [(PPh3)2Cl2Ru=CH-CH=CMe2] to yield [(PPh2Cy)2Cl2Ru=CHCH= CMe2] instead; a phosphine exchange reaction with the complex [(PPh3)2Cl2Ru=CH-CH=CMe2] and free phosphine PPh2Cy; and utilising the analogue arsine ligand, AsPh3, to synthesise [(AsPh3)2Cl2Ru=CHCH=CMe2]; but unfortunately no success was achieved. However, it was possible to synthesise a novel second generation Grubbs type catalyst, [(IMesH2)(PPh2Cy)Cl2Ru=CHPh], through the phosphine exchange reaction of [(IMesH2)(NC5H5)2Cl2Ru=CHPh] and PPh2Cy. The new complex was tested in kinetic reaction studies and phosphine exchange reactions. Results showed that [(IMesH2)(PPh2Cy)Cl2Ru=CHPh] was catalytically active for the ring closing metathesis of commercial diethyl diallylmalonate. The reaction was first order with regard to the olefin, contrary to the second order kinetic results reported for similar reactions catalysed by first generation Grubbs catalysts. The phosphine exchange reactions were very successful and a rate constant could be determined. The rate constant was independent of the free phosphine concentration and activation parameters had relatively large, positive values; results indicative of a dissociative mechanism. These findings are in correlation with literature reports. A kinetic investigation was done on the catalyst-olefin coordination involving the functionalized olefins vinyl acetate, allyl acetate and allyl cyanide; and the first generation Grubbs catalyst, [(PCy3)2Cl2Ru=CHPh]. A two-step rate law, similar to an interchange mechanism, was determined. Phobcat, [(PhobCy)2Cl2Ru=CHPh], is modified first generation Grubbs type catalyst with rigid bicyclic phosphine rings which was recently developed by the Sasol Homogeneous Metathesis Group. In the current study Phobcat was compared to Grubbs1-PCy3 in the cross metathesis reaction of 1-octene. Results showed that Phobcat was up to 60% more active and had a 5 hour longer lifetime than Grubbs 1-PCy3. Theoretical studies were done on the three functionalized olefins of the earlier experimental study to gain fundamental understanding of steric and electronic influences on these catalyst-olefin systems. Without exception, coordination via the heteroatom of the olefin was significantly more favourable than coordination via the double bond functionality. This result indicates that metathesis of these olefins is highly unlikely, since the stable heteroatom coordination will suppress the parallel Ru=C/C=C interaction which is compulsory for the metathesis reaction. Orbital studies highlighted the difference between coordination of acetate and cyanide, but no trend of an electronic nature could be recognised. / Prof. A. Roodt
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:1717 |
| Date | 15 May 2008 |
| Creators | Oosthuizen, Sharon |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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