Controlled radical polymerization catalysed by ruthenium complexes: Variations on Ru-Cp#

A series of isoelectronic ruthenium-based complexes of the general formula [RuX(Cp#)L2] (Cp# = cyclopentadienyl or cyclopentadienyl derivatives) were synthesized, and their relative catalytic activities were determined by monitoring the atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate, n-butyl acrylate, and styrene. [RuCl(Cp*)(PPh3)2] and [RuCl(Ind)(PPh3)2] were found to be highly efficient catalysts for ATRP, producing polymers with narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn < 1.2). the following order of increasing efficiency was determined: [RuCl(Cp)(PPh3)2] << [RuCl(ind)(PPh3)2] < [RuCl(Cp*)(PPh3)2]. In sharp contrast, ruthena-carboranes were inefficient for ATRP, demonstrating therefore the prominent role of the Cp# ligand. The effect of the phosphine ligands was also investigated, and additional studies indicated that the release of a phosphine ligand occured prior to the activation of the carbon-halogen bond of both the initiator and polymer growing chain end by the unsaturated ruthenium center.