The preparation, structure,
and catalytic activity of a series of bidentate
1-vinylcarbeneruthenium complexes derived from the st
andard metathesis catalysts
1,
2, or
4 by enynemetathesis
with phenylacetylene derivatives bearing an isopropoxy substituent at their
orthoposition are described. Terminal as
well as non-terminal phenylacetylene derivatives react
with similar ease, thus providing ample opportunity for the preparation of catalysts
withtailor-made properties. Use of the silyl propargyl ether derivative
13b as the substrate resultsin the formation of complex
15, in
which the silyl ether moiety rather than the isopropoxysubstituent ligates the metal center. The structures of the ne
w chelate complexes
6,
7,
9,
14,
and 15 in the solid state
were determined by X-ray crystallography.