Synthesis of functional materials using olefin metathesis catalysts and initiators

Ruthenium based olefin metathesis catalysts have provided new routes to olefins that appear in a variety of structures. Their functional group tolerance and ease of use allow their application in the synthesis of multifunctional bioactive molecules. The same systems are also useful for the synthesis of an array of new materials from multifunctional polymers to supramolecular systems. Underlying these developments has been the discovery of active catalysts with controlled selectivity through the synthesis of new ligands that control the geometry of the intermediate carbene and metallacycle complexes.