Home > 2005 Chemistry Nobel Prize (Molecule of the Month for October 2005)

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C43H72Cl2P2Ru

Grubbs' Catalyst is named after the chemist by whom it was first synthesized, Robert H. Grubbs. There are two generations of the catalyst. In contrast to other olefin metathesis catalysts, Grubbs' Catalysts tolerate other functional groups in the alkene and are compatible with a wide range of solvents.

The catalyst is often used in organic synthesis to achieve olefin cross-metathesis, ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), and ring-closing metathesis. It is easily synthesized from RuCl2(PPh3)3, phenyldiazomethane, and tricyclohexylphosphine in a one-pot synthesis. Grubbs' Catalyst is a relatively stable compound in air, which makes handling

On October 5, 2005, Robert H. Grubbs, Richard R. Schrock and Yves Chauvin won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in recognition of their contributions to the development of this widely used process.

Formal Chemical Name (IUPAC)
benzylidene-bis(tricyclohexylphosphine)dichlororuthenium

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grubbs_Catalyst

Update by Karl Harrison
(Molecule of the Month for October 2005 )