Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview01:13

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview

Recently, the development of olefin metathesis polymerization advanced the field of polymer synthesis. Simply put, the reorganization of substituents on their double bonds between two olefins in the presence of a catalyst is known as the olefin metathesis reaction. The use of metathesis reaction for polymer synthesis is called olefin metathesis polymerization.
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)00:53

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)

Acyclic diene metathesis polymerization or ADMET polymerization involves cross-metathesis of terminal dienes, such as 1,8-nonadiene, to give linear unsaturated polymer and ethylene. As ADMET is a reversible process, the formed ethylene gas must be removed from the reaction mixture to complete the polymerization process.
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...
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)01:16

Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization or ROMP involves strained cycloalkenes as starting materials. The mechanism of ROMP proceeds by reacting cycloalkene with Grubbs catalyst to give metallacyclobutane intermediate which undergoes a ring-opening reaction to form new carbene. The new carbene reacts with another molecule of cycloalkene. Repetition of these steps leads to the formation of an unsaturated open-chain polymer product. All these steps are reversible, however, relieving the ring...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide02:44

Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide

Alkenes are converted to 1,2-diols or glycols through a process called dihydroxylation. It involves the addition of two hydroxyl groups across the double bond with two different stereochemical approaches, namely anti and syn. Dihydroxylation using osmium tetroxide progresses with syn stereochemistry.
Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids02:04

Oxidation of Alkenes: Anti Dihydroxylation with Peroxy Acids

Diols are compounds with two hydroxyl groups. In addition to syn dihydroxylation, diols can also be synthesized through the process of anti dihydroxylation. The process involves treating an alkene with a peroxycarboxylic acid to form an epoxide. Epoxides are highly strained three-membered rings with oxygen and two carbons occupying the corners of an equilateral triangle. This step is followed by ring-opening of the epoxide in the presence of an aqueous acid to give a trans diol.
Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation01:12

Cycloaddition Reactions: MO Requirements for Photochemical Activation

Some cycloaddition reactions are activated by heat, while others are initiated by light. For example, a [2 + 2] cycloaddition between two ethylene molecules occurs only in the presence of light. It is photochemically allowed but thermally forbidden.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Enabling 3D Printing of Space-Durable High-Performance Polymers: Low Earth Orbit Exposure.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026
Same author

Inside-Out, Dual Light-, and pH-Triggered Release from Oil-Core Microcapsules Via CATCH Cleavage Mechanism.

ACS macro letters·2026
Same author

Photoswitchable olefins as latent metathesis monomers for controlled polymerization.

Nature chemistry·2025
Same author

Artificial metalloenzyme assembly in cellular compartments for enhanced catalysis.

Nature chemical biology·2025
Same author

Stereospecific Radical Bromination of β-Aryl Alcohols with Thiourea Additives Through A Serendipitous Discovery of A 1,2-Aryl Migration.

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2025
Same author

Selective Cross-Metathesis Versus Ring-Closing Metathesis of Terpenes, Taking the Path Less Travelled.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2024
Same journal

The role of spacer length and flexibility in peptide self-assembly.

Beilstein journal of organic chemistry·2026
Same journal

Novel macrocycles: from synthesis to supramolecular function.

Beilstein journal of organic chemistry·2026
Same journal

Electrochemical reduction of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds via 3d transition-metal catalysis.

Beilstein journal of organic chemistry·2026
Same journal

Synthesis of sterically shielded piperidine nitroxides via acid-catalyzed heterocyclization of β-aminoketone derivatives with ketones.

Beilstein journal of organic chemistry·2026
Same journal

Chiral cyclopropenimine-catalyzed enantioselective Michael reactions of phenol and benzofuran-derived α,β-unsaturated pyrazolamides with benzophenone-imine of glycine esters.

Beilstein journal of organic chemistry·2026
Same journal

A practical CO<sub>2</sub>-mediated synthesis of 5,6-carboxylated silicon-rhodamines for targeted probe development.

Beilstein journal of organic chemistry·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Imine Metathesis by Silica-Supported Catalysts Using the Methodology of Surface Organometallic Chemistry
09:37

Imine Metathesis by Silica-Supported Catalysts Using the Methodology of Surface Organometallic Chemistry

Published on: October 18, 2019

Light-induced olefin metathesis.

Yuval Vidavsky1, N Gabriel Lemcoff

  • 1Chemistry Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.

Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry
|December 17, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review explores light-activated olefin metathesis, a powerful technique for controlling catalytic reactions. It covers historical tungsten methods and modern ruthenium catalysts for various metathesis reactions.

Keywords:
RCMROMPcatalysislight activationolefin metathesisphotoactivationphotoinitiationphotoisomerisationrutheniumtungsten

More Related Videos

Characterizing Lewis Pairs Using Titration Coupled with In Situ Infrared Spectroscopy
07:49

Characterizing Lewis Pairs Using Titration Coupled with In Situ Infrared Spectroscopy

Published on: February 20, 2020

Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization
12:19

Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Published on: November 29, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Imine Metathesis by Silica-Supported Catalysts Using the Methodology of Surface Organometallic Chemistry
09:37

Imine Metathesis by Silica-Supported Catalysts Using the Methodology of Surface Organometallic Chemistry

Published on: October 18, 2019

Characterizing Lewis Pairs Using Titration Coupled with In Situ Infrared Spectroscopy
07:49

Characterizing Lewis Pairs Using Titration Coupled with In Situ Infrared Spectroscopy

Published on: February 20, 2020

Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization
12:19

Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Published on: November 29, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Catalysis
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Photochemistry

Background:

  • Light activation offers precise control over catalytic processes.
  • Olefin metathesis is a versatile reaction with significant academic and industrial applications.
  • Developing light-controllable catalytic systems is a key research area.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To survey the literature on light-activated olefin metathesis.
  • To summarize historical and current developments in photoinitiated metathesis.
  • To highlight the use of light in various olefin metathesis reactions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on photoinitiated olefin metathesis.
  • Analysis of early heterogeneous tungsten-based systems.
  • Examination of modern ruthenium-based photoisomerization and indirect photoactivation methods.

Main Results:

  • Early work utilized tungsten catalysts for heterogeneous photoinitiated metathesis.
  • Modern approaches employ ruthenium catalysts with sophisticated photoactivation strategies.
  • Light activation has been successfully applied to ring-closing, ring-opening polymerization, and cross-metathesis.

Conclusions:

  • Light activation provides a valuable tool for controlling olefin metathesis reactions.
  • Significant progress has been made from early tungsten systems to advanced ruthenium catalysts.
  • Photoinitiated olefin metathesis offers diverse applications in organic synthesis and polymer chemistry.