Ethenolysis is a cross metathesis reaction of an internal olefin with ethene, which is typically used for the synthesis of alpha-olefins from unsaturated oils, such as oleic acid ester. We have recently demonstrated that plant based materials like natural rubber can also undergo efficient ethenolysis reactions to yield various oligomeric isoprenes. Related reactions are also possible with other unsaturated plant-based polymers. (NHC)(NHCewg)RuCl2(=CRR') and Grubbs-Hoveyda type complexes are highly active precatalysts for such transformations; typically 0.1 mol% of [Ru] complex are sufficient for the extensive cleavage of the polymer chains. We have now up-scaled this method considerably, to get hold of significant quantities of depolymerized material.  The ethenolysis products are also employed in chemical transformations, to obtain new polymeric materials and valuable small molecules.

On the ethenolysis of rubber

244th National Meeting (2012)

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