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.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass an organoruthenium compound of the formula (I) or formula (II): ##STR00001##
Wherein X, L, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5, Ar.sub.1 and Ar.sub.2 are as defined herein. Also disclosed herein are the use of organoruthenium compound of formula (I) or formula (II) as (pre)catalysts for the olefin metathesis reactions, as well as to the process for carrying out the olefin metathesis reaction.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass compositions encompassing a latent catalyst and a thermal or photoactivator along with one or more monomers which undergo ring open metathesis polymerization (ROMP) when said composition is heated to a temperature from 50° C. to 100° 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.

Provided are a novel acyclic carbene ligand for ruthenium complex formation; a ruthenium complex catalyst using the ligand; a method of using the complex as a catalyst in an ethylene-metathesis ethenolysis reaction; a method of preparing the ruthenium complex catalyst; and a method of preparing a linear alpha-olefin, the method including the step of reacting a linear or cyclic alkene compound in the presence of the ruthenium complex catalyst. The acyclic carbene ligand of the present invention and the ruthenium complex catalyst using the same have high selectivity and turnover number for terminal olefin formation in an ethylene-metathesis ethenolysis reaction, and thus linear α-olefins may be prepared with a high yield.

A production method of producing a fluorine-containing olefin by allowing a first olefin represented by the following Formula (1) and a second olefin to react with each other in the presence of a ruthenium compound represented by the following Formula (X) is provided.

##STR00001##

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.

This invention relates generally to olefin metathesis catalysts, to the preparation of such compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds, and the use of such compounds in the metathesis of olefins and in the synthesis of related olefin metathesis catalysts. The invention has utility in the fields of catalysis, organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, and in industrial applications such as oil and gas, fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

A process to produce 1-octene and 1-decene includes (a) separating a composition containing an oligomer product—which contains from 15 to 80 mol % C.sub.6 olefins, from 20 to 80 mol % C.sub.8 olefins, and from 5 to 20 mol % C.sub.10+ olefins—into a first oligomer composition containing C.sub.6 alkanes and at least 85 mol % C.sub.6 olefins (e.g., 1-hexene), a second oligomer composition containing at least 85 mol % C.sub.8 olefins (e.g., 1-octene), and a heavies stream containing C.sub.10+ olefins, then (b) contacting a metathesis catalyst system with the first oligomer composition to form a first composition comprising C.sub.10 linear internal olefins, (c) contacting the C.sub.10 linear internal olefins with an isomerization hydrofunctionalization catalyst system to form a second composition containing a functionalized alkane, (d) retro-hydrofunctionalizing the functionalized alkane to form a third composition containing 1-decene, and (e) purifying the third composition to isolate a fourth composition containing at least 90 mol % 1-decene. Processes to produce 1-hexene and 1-decene also are described, as well as related manufacturing systems.

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.

A method of preparing a 2,6 disubstituted anilines includes, reacting a 2-amino isophthalic acid diester with sufficient Grignard reagent R.sub.2CH.sub.2MgX to form the corresponding diol product, dehydrating the diol product to the corresponding dialkene; and hydrogenating the diol product to form the corresponding aniline. The 2,6 disubstituted anilines can be used to produce N-Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs). The NHCs can find application in various fields such as organic synthesis, catalysis and macromolecular chemistry. Palladium catalysts containing the NHCs are also described.