We have developed an easy method for the synthesis of olefin metathesis catalysts containing CAAC ligands derived from unsymmetrically substituted anilines.
Low solubility in a non-polar environment was solved by using longer alkyl fragments (n-Pr, sec-Bu, iso-Bu, tert-Bu) at different positions of the CAAC ligand. These compounds are universal and resistant to typical "poisons" (like ethylene or acrylonitrile). That is why they can be used, for example, in CM reactions with acrylonitrile, leading to a valuable monomer in the synthesis of polyamide-11.
In obtaining the valuable product 9-DAME in the ethenolysis of technical oleic esters (vegetable oils) give a record activity of 780,000 TON and can be used in amounts of 5-0.5 parts per million (ppm), even at lower ethylene purity (3.5) in air.
