Intriguing substituent effect in modified Hoveyda–Grubbs metathesis catalysts incorporating a chelating iodo-benzylidene ligand

Abstract

A series of modified Hoveyda–Grubbs catalysts incorporating a chelating iodo-benzylidene ligand were prepared and characterized. The presence of electron-withdrawing ring substituents in the para position to the iodide was found to decrease the catalytic activity, revealing that dissociation of the Ru⋯I–Ar bond is not the rate-determining step.