New ruthenium catalysts bearing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands for ATRP

Stable nucleophilic N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are neutral, two-electron ligands with a negligible p-back-bonding tendency. They behave as phosphine mimics, yet they are better s-
donors and they form stronger bonds to metal centers than most phosphines. Their electronic and steric properties are liable to ample modification simply by varying the substituents on the
nitrogen atoms. Therefore, NHCs constitute a promising new class of ligands available for catalyst engineering and fine-tuning.
We found that the 18-electron complex RuCl2(p-cymene)(PCy3) was a versatile and efficient promoter for ring-opening metathesis polymerization of both strained and low-strain cyclic olefins when activated by a suitable precursor such as trimethylsilyldiazomethane. This complex was also an excellent catalyst for ATRP (Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization) of MMA and styrene. In this poster, we present preliminary results obtained in olefin metathesis and in radical reactions (ATRP and Kharasch addition) when tricyclohexylphosphine was substituted by an N-heterocylic carbene ligand.