New in situ generated ruthenium catalysts bearing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands for the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cyclooctene

New 1,3-diarylimidazol(in)ium chlorides bearing phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 4-biphenyl, 2-tolyl, 2,6-dimethylphenyl, and 3,5-dimethylphenyl substituents were synthesized. They were combined with [RuCl2 (p-cymene)](2) and potassium tert-butoxide or sodium hydride to generate the corresponding ruthenium-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes in situ. Catalyst precursors derived from imidazol(in)ium salts bearing the 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (mesityl) and the 2,6-diisopropylphenyl groups were also prepared. The catalytic activity of all these species in the photoinduced ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cyclooctene was investigated. The C4-C5 double bond in the imidazole ring of the N-heterocyclic carbene ligands was not crucial to achieve high catalytic efficiencies. The presence or the absence of alkyl groups on the ortho positions of the phenyl rings had a more pronounced influence. Blocking all the ortho positions was a requisite for obtaining efficient catalysts. Failure to do so probably results in the ortho-metallation of the carbene ligand, thereby altering the coordination sphere of the ruthenium active centers.