A highly efficient method for the conversion of a natural product into the high density fuel RJ-4 with concomitant evolution of isobutylene for conversion to fuels and polymers, more specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to efficient methods for the conversion of the renewable, linear terpene alcohol, linalool into a drop-in, high density fuel suitable for ramjet or missile propulsion.

The present invention refers to novel ruthenium- and osmium-based catalysts for olefin metathesis reactions, particularly to catalysts having stereoselective properties. Z-selectivity is obtained by utilizing two mono-anionic ligands of very different steric requirement. In olefin metathesis reactions these catalysts selectively provide the Z-isomer of disubstituted olefinic products even in presence of air or of acids.

A method for producing at least one olefin compound selected from the group consisting of a compound of formula (51) and a compound of formula (52), the method including reacting an olefin compound of formula (21) with a olefin compound of formula (31) in the presence of at least one metal catalyst selected from the group consisting of a compound of formula (11), a compound of formula (12), a compound of formula (13), a compound of formula (14), and a compound of formula (15).

##STR00001##

The invention relates to a ruthenium alkylidene complex comprising a 1-aryl-3-cycloalkyl-imidazolin-2-ylidene ligand, the cycloalkyl group of said 1-aryl-3-cycloalkyl-imidazolin-2-ylidene ligand being a cyclic secondary aliphatic alkyl.

The invention is directed to ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts of the Grubbs-Hoveyda type. The new 2-aryloxy-substituted ruthenium catalysts described herein reveal rapid initiation behavior. Further, the corresponding styrene-based precursor compounds are disclosed. The catalysts are prepared in a cross-metathesis reaction starting from styrene-based precursors which can be prepared in a cost-effective manner. The new Grubbs-Hoveyda type catalysts are suitable to catalyze ring-closing metathesis (RCM), cross metathesis (CM) and ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Low catalyst loadings are necessary to convert a wide range of substrates including more complex and critical substrates via metathesis reactions at low to moderate temperatures in high yields within short reaction times.

A tetraanionic OCO pincer ligand metal-oxo-alkylidene complex is prepared from a trianionic pincer ligand supported metal-alkylidyne. The metal can be tungsten or other group 5-7 transition metal. The tetraanionic pincer ligand metal-oxo-alkylidene complex, a trianionic OCO pincer ligand metal complex, or a trianionic ONO pincer ligand metal complex can be used to polymerize cycloalkenes. The poly(cycloalkene)s are predominantly cis-alkene macrocyclics.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for synthesizing a fatty olefin derivative. The method includes: a) contacting an olefin according to Formula I

##STR00001##

with a metathesis reaction partner according to Formula IIb

##STR00002##

in the presence of a metathesis catalyst under conditions sufficient to form a metathesis product according to Formula IIIb:

##STR00003##

and
b) converting the metathesis product to the fatty olefin derivative. Each R.sup.1 is independently selected from H, C.sub.1-18 alkyl, and C.sub.2-18 alkenyl; R.sup.2b is C.sub.1-8 alkyl; subscript y is an integer ranging from 0 to 17; and subscript z is an integer ranging from 0 to 17. In certain embodiments, the metathesis catalyst is a tungsten catalyst or a molybdenum catalyst. In various embodiments, the fatty olefin derivative is a pheromone. Pheromone compositions and methods of using them are also described.

The present invention relates to a catalyst system containing a metathesis catalyst containing at least one N-heterocyclic carbene ligand and at least one phenolic compound and to a process for performing the metathesis on nitrile rubbers for reducing their molecular weight using a metathesis catalyst containing at least one N-heterocyclic carbene ligand (NHC ligand) and at least one phenolic compound.

The present invention provides a novel process for subjecting a diene-based-polymer to a metathesis reaction in a first step and a selective hydrogenation of the carbon-carbon double bonds present in such diene-based polymers in a second step using a ruthenium or osmium based complex catalyst, wherein the diene-based polymer is present in latex form, this means as a suspension of diene-based polymer particles in an aqueous medium.

The current invention describes new metathesis catalysts, a method for their preparation and their use in metathesis reactions.