Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization
Published on: November 29, 2018
Olefin metathesis in carotenoid synthesis
Takayuki Kajikawa1, Naoko Iguchi, Shigeo Katsumura
1Department of Chemistry and Open Research Center on Organic Tool Molecules, School of Science and Technology, Kwansei Gakuin University, Gakuen 2-1, Sanda, Hyogo, 669-1337, Japan.
Abstract:
Olefin metathesis is a powerful and widely applicable synthetic method for carbon-carbon double bond formation. However, its application to the synthesis of conjugating polyene chains has been very limited because of possible undesired side reactions. We attempted to apply this method to the synthesis of symmetrical carotenoids. In this paper, the syntheses of violaxanthin and mimulaxanthin are described using the olefin metathesis protocol.
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: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)
Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation

