Immobilization of the Grubbs second-generation ruthenium-carbene complex on poly(ethylene glycol): a highly reactive and recyclable catalyst for ring-closing and cross-metathesis

A poly(ethylene glycol)-bound Hoveyda–Grubbs Ru catalyst derived from the Grubbs second-generation Ru carbene complex was synthesized and shown to be highly reactive in the ring-closing metathesis of a wide variety of diene substrates, yielding di-, tri-, and tetra-substituted carbocyclic and heterocyclic olefins. The immobilized catalyst also proved to be highly reactive and recyclable in cross-metathesis and ring-opening/cross-metathesis. In all cases tested, the catalyst exhibited a high level of recyclability and reusability.