Grubbs' Catalyst (Molecule of the Month for October 2005)
2005 Chemistry Nobel Prize
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
click on the picture of Grubbs' Catalyst above to interact
with the 3D model of the
Grubbs' Catalyst structure
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C43H72Cl2P2Ru
Update by Karl Harrison
(Molecule of the Month for
October 2005
)
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