Site isolation of a Grubbs olefin metathesis catalyst via confinement in a polymer scaffold has the potential to enhance the reactivity and selectivity of cross metathesis catalysis. Our group is interested in supporting a ruthenium metathesis catalyst within a star polymer core to produce site isolation with the goal of improving the catalyst’s reactivity, stability, and temperature tolerance. Our modified NHC ligand includes two styrenic groups appended to the para-positions of the well-established IPr ligand. The modified NHC is synthesized starting with 2,6-diisopropylaniline via iodination, imine condensation, Suzuki coupling, and heterocyclization. The vinylic groups allow for direct copolymerization by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT).  Concurrent with our synthetic work, we have run multiple homo- and hetero-cross metathesis reactions between monomers with different expected reactivity - 1-hexene, styrene, and tert-butylethylene - using a commercial catalyst. These results will serve as a benchmark for our supported catalysts.

Development of a polymer-supported NHC ligand for site-isolation of a ruthenium cross metathesis catalyst

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