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.

Method of making a cross metathesis product, the method comprising at least step (X) or step (Y): (X) reacting in a cross metathesis reaction a first compound comprising a terminal olefinic group with a second compound comprising a terminal olefinic group, wherein the first and the second compound may be identical or may be different from one another; or (Y) reacting in a ring-closing metathesis reaction two terminal olefinic groups which are comprised in a third compound; wherein the reacting in step (X) or step (Y) is performed in the presence of a ruthenium carbene complex comprising a [Ru═C]-moiety and an internal olefin.

Compound of formula 4 or formula 5 ##STR00001##
wherein
L is a neutral ligand, preferably a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic carbene (NHC) such as carbene containing at least two nitrogen atoms, a cyclic aminoalkyl carbene (CAAC) or a bicyclic aminoalkyl carbene (BICAAC);
R.sup.1, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 are, independently, H, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkyl, C.sub.5-9 cycloalkyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkoxy, optionally bearing one or more halogen atoms, respectively; or aryl, optionally substituted with one or more of unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkyl, C.sub.5-9 cycloalkyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, heteroaryl, carboxyl, cyano, nitro, amido, aminosulfonyl, N-heteroarylsulfonyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkylsulfinyl, arylsulfinyl, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkylthio, arylthio, sulfonamide, halogen or N(R.sup.y)(R.sup.z), wherein R.sup.y and R.sup.z are independently selected from H and C.sub.1-20 alkyl:
R.sup.2 is H, unbranched or branched C.sub.1-20 alkyl.

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 present invention describes a catalyst composition for use as a catalyst system for an ethylene oligomerization, providing high activity and produce linear oligomer product having broad weight percent distribution i.e. C.sub.4 to C.sub.16. The catalyst composition comprises a zirconium amide compound, an organoaluminum compound and an additive. The present invention also provides a process for preparation of the zirconium amide compound comprising reacting a zirconium component having formula ZrX.sub.m.nTHF, wherein X is halogen atom; m is an integer having value equal or less than 4 and n is a number equal or less than 2, and a substituted amide of formula RCONR′R″, wherein R, R′ and R″ are saturated or unsaturated aliphatic C.sub.1-C.sub.10 hydrocarbon or aromatic C.sub.6-C.sub.14 hydrocarbon, in the presence of an organic solvent.

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 present invention relates to a process for preparing nitrile rubbers having reduced molecular weight by metathesis of a first nitrile rubber in the presence of specific ruthenium complex catalysts that have particular N-heterocyclic carbene ligands.

The present invention describes a catalyst composition for use as a catalyst system for an ethylene olisomerization, providing high activity and produce linear oligomer product having broad weight percent distribution i.e. C.sub.4 to C.sub.16. The catalyst composition comprises a zirconium amide compound, an organoaluminum compound and an additive. The present invention also provides a process for preparation of the zirconium amide compound comprising reacting a zirconium component having formula ZrX.sub.mnTHF, wherein X is halogen atom; m is an integer having value equal or less than 4 and n is a number equal or less than 2, and a substituted amide of formula RCONR′R″, wherein R, R′ and R″ are saturated or unsaturated aliphatic C.sub.1-C.sub.10 hydrocarbon or aromatic C.sub.6-C.sub.14 hydrocarbon, in the presence of an organic solvent.

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.

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.