In one aspect, phosphine compounds comprising three adamantyl moieties (PAd.sub.3) and associated synthetic routes are described herein. Each adamantyl moiety may be the same or different. For example, each adamantyl moiety (Ad) attached to the phosphorus atom can be independently selected from the group consisting of adamantane, diamantane, triamantane and derivatives thereof. Transition metal complexes comprising PAd.sub.3 ligands are also provided for catalytic synthesis including catalytic cross-coupling reactions.

The invention relates to a method of forming an olefin from a first olefin and a second olefin in a metathesis reaction, comprising step (i): (i) reacting the first olefin with the second olefin in the presence of a compound that catalyzes said metathesis reaction such that the molar ratio of said compound to the first or the second olefin is from 1:500 or less, and the conversion of the first or the second olefin to said olefin is at least 50%, characterized in that as compound that catalyzes said metathesis reaction a compound of formula (A) is used: wherein M is Mo or W; R.sup.1 is aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, or heteroalkyl; optionally substituted; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 can be the same or different and are hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, heteroalkyl, heteroalkenyl, aryl, or heteroaryl; optionally substituted; R.sup.5 is alkyl, alkoxy, heteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, silylalkyl, silyloxy, optionally substituted; and R.sup.4 is a residue R.sup.6X, wherein XO and R.sup.6 is aryl, optionally substituted; or XS and R.sup.6 is aryl, optionally substituted; or XO and R.sup.6 is (R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9)Si; wherein R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9 are alkyl or phenyl, optionally substituted; or XO and R.sup.6 is (R.sup.10, R.sup.11, R.sup.12)C, wherein R.sup.10, R.sup.11, R.sup.12 are independently selected from phenyl, alkyl; optionally substituted; and to the catalysts used in the method. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to an optically pure (+) or () enantiomer of a ruthenium complex having formula (I) as well as the preparation method of said enantiomer, and uses thereof as catalyst, in particular in asymmetric olefin metathesis. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates generally to catalysts and processes for the Z-selective formation of internal olefin(s) from terminal olefin(s) via homo-metathesis reactions.

The disclosure is directed to: (a) phosphacycle ligands; (b) catalyst compositions comprising phosphacycle ligands; and (c) methods of using such phosphacycle ligands and catalyst compositions in bond forming reactions.

The present invention relates generally to catalysts and processes for the Z-selective formation of internal olefin(s) from terminal olefin(s) via homo-metathesis reactions.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a chiral Pd(0) precatalyst that exhibits bench-top and/or solution stability against degradation and/or oxidation. Also disclosed are method embodiments for making the Pd(0) precatalyst and methods for using the same in enantioselective chemical reactions, such as carbon-element bond formation.

The present disclosure is directed to methods preparing ruthenium compounds, useful for use in metathesis reactions, the product compounds arising from such methods, and the use of such product compounds as catalysts in the metathesis of olefins. In particular, methods take advantage of the use of intermediates of the general formula (C) to obtain the CH metalated, sterically hindered ruthenium compounds of generally formula (B): Using the disclosed methods, the compounds of the general formula (B) are produced in higher yields, exhibit higher catalytic activity/selectivity, and give rise to more hindered catalysts than are accessible from methods previously known.

##STR00001##

A multidentate phosphite ligand comprising a backbone which comprises a substituted or unsubstituted spirobiindane compound and at least two organophosphite groups chemically bonded to the backbone, wherein the organophosphite groups are alkyl phosphite groups or wherein the organophosphite groups are aryl phosphite groups, wherein the aryl moieties on the aryl phosphite groups are phenyl rings substituted with one or more C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl groups; or which comprises a substituted or unsubstituted spirodifluorene compound and at least two organophosphite groups chemically bonded to the backbone.

A multidentate phosphite ligand comprises an iptycene backbone in which the iptycene is optionally substituted with one or more C1 to C4 alkyl substituents, and at least two aryl phosphite groups chemically bonded to the backbone.