A method for forming monosubstituted diphenylsilanes is broadly provided. The method involves reacting diphenylsilane with an alcohol in the presence of a catalyst and a strong base activator. The reaction results in high selectivity to addition at only one hydrogen site.

A method of carrying out a metathesis reaction includes the combination of at least one alkene or non conjugated diene with a Ruthenium-based catalyst with an cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene ligand to form a reaction mixture and heating the reaction mixture to a temperature of 100 C. or greater. The reaction can be an ADMET, ROMP, a metathesis ring-closure or an olefin exchange reaction.

A highly efficient, Z-selective ring-closing metathesis system for the formation of macrocycles using a stereoretentive, ruthenium-based catalyst supported by a dithiolate ligand is reported. This catalyst is demonstrated to be remarkably active as observed in initiation experiments showing complete catalyst initiation at 20 C. within 10 min. Using easily accessible diene starting materials bearing a Z-olefin moiety, macrocyclization reactions generated products with significantly higher Z-selectivity in appreciably shorter reaction times, in higher yield, and with much lower catalyst loadings than in previously reported systems. Macrocyclic lactones ranging in size from twelve-membered to seventeen-membered rings are synthesized in moderate to high yields (68-79% yield) with excellent Z-selectivity (95%-99% Z).

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass compositions encompassing a latent organo-ruthenium catalyst, an organo-ruthenium compound and a pyridine compound along with one or more monomers which undergo ring open metathesis polymerization (ROMP) when said composition is heated to a temperature from 80 C. to 150 C. or higher to form a substantially transparent film. Alternatively the compositions of this invention also undergo polymerization when subjected to suitable radiation. The monomers employed therein have a range of refractive index from 1.4 to 1.6 and thus these compositions can be tailored to form transparent films of varied refractive indices. The compositions of this invention further comprises inorganic nanoparticles which form transparent films and further increases the refractive indices of the compositions. Accordingly, compositions of this invention are useful in various opto-electronic applications, including as coatings, encapsulants, fillers, leveling agents, among others.

The present application provides a hydrodefluorodimerization process, which is useful in the synthesis of, for example, fluoroolefins that can be used as refrigerants, blowers and the like. The process is an early-stage fluorination process, wherein precursors containing fluorine are assembled into the desired product using a zerovalent nickel catalyst. Also provided is a liquid composition comprising one or more fluoroolefin produced by this catalytic process.

A method of carrying out a metathesis reaction includes the combination of at least one alkene or non conjugated diene with a Ruthenium-based catalyst with an cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene ligand to form a reaction mixture and heating the reaction mixture to a temperature of 100 C. or greater. The reaction can be an ADMET, ROMP, a metathesis ring-closure or an olefin exchange reaction.

This invention relates generally to the synthesis of E-macrocycles using stereoretentive ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts supported by dithioiate ligands. Macrocycles were generated with excellent selectivity (>99% E) and in moderate to high/good yields (47% to 80% yield; 58% to 80% yield) from diene starting materials bearing two E-olefins or bearing one E-olefin and one terminal olefin, A variety of rings were constructed, ranging from 12- to 18-membered macrocycles, including the antibiotic recifeiolide. The invention has utility in the fields of organometallics and organic synthesis.

This invention relates generally to metathesis catalysts and the use of such catalysts in the metathesis of olefins and olefin compounds, more particularly, in the use of such catalysts in Z and E selective olefin metathesis reactions. The invention has utility in the fields of organometallics and organic synthesis.

Chiral 1, 3-diarylimidazole salt carbene precursors, their methods of preparation, particularly transition metal complexes and their use in chemical synthesis are provided. In particular, an air and moisture stable chiral 1, 3-diarylimidazole carbene precursor Cu (I) complex has been prepared and applied to highly regio- and enantioselective Markovnikov hydroboration of unactivated terminal alkenes to form chiral boronic esters. Moreover, these new chiral NHCs can be potentially applied in various metal-catalyzed asymmetric transformations.

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Polydentate macrocyclic NHCs (NHC ligands) and related methods are disclosed. Such ligands advantageously facilitate a variety of ligand coordination modes and stabilize oxidation states of metal complexes with a number of coordination environments and shapes. The NHC ligands described herein comprise pendant groups configured to facilitate a variety of reactions including: cis-trans isomerization, proton shuttling and facilitating changes in coordination environments as a result of redox reactions.