Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization
Published on: November 29, 2018
An [(NHC)(NHC(EWG))RuCl2(CHPh)] complex for the efficient formation of sterically hindered olefins by ring-closing
Tim Vorfalt1, Steffen Leuthäusser, Herbert Plenio
1Anorganische Chemie im Zintl-Institut, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstrasse 18, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
Abstract:
NHC with EWGs for RCM: Ruthenium complexes with two N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), one of them substituted with electron-withdrawing groups (EWGs), are highly efficient (pre)catalysts for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted olefins and trisubstituted olefins by ring-closing metathesis reactions (RCM, see scheme).
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)
[3,3] Sigmatropic Rearrangement of Allyl Vinyl Ethers: Claisen Rearrangement
Thermal Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Thermal Activation
Conjugated systems containing an even number of π-electron pairs undergo a conrotatory ring closure. For example, thermal electrocyclization of (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadiene, a conjugated diene containing two π-electron pairs, gives trans-3,4-dimethylcyclobutene.
Base-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides
Acid-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides

