One embodiment of the invention provides polyisobutylene (PIB) oligomers that are end-functionalized with ruthenium (Ru) catalysts. Such nonpolar catalysts can be dissolved in nonpolar solvents such as heptane, or any other nonpolar solvent that is otherwise not latently biphasic (i.e., if two or more solvent components are present, they remain miscible with each other throughout the entire reaction process, from the addition of substrate through to the removal of product). Substrate that is dissolved in the nonpolar solvent with the catalyst is converted into product. The lower solubility of the product in the nonpolar solvent renders it easily removable, either by extraction with a more polar solvent or by applying physical means in cases where the product precipitates from the nonpolar solvent. In this manner the catalysts are recycled; since the catalysts remain in the nonpolar solvent, a new reaction can be initiated simply by dissolving fresh substrate into the nonpolar solvent.
本发明的一个实施例提供了末端功能化与
钌(Ru)催化剂的聚
异丁烯(
PIB)寡聚体。这种非极性催化剂可以溶解在非极性溶剂中,如
庚烷,或者任何其他否则不是潜在两相的非极性溶剂(即,如果存在两种或更多的溶剂成分,则它们在整个反应过程中保持互溶,从底物的加入到产品的去除)。溶解在带有催化剂的非极性溶剂中的底物会转化为产物。产物在非极性溶剂中的较低溶解度使其易于去除,可以通过用更极性的溶剂萃取或者在产物从非极性溶剂中沉淀的情况下应用物理手段来实现。通过这种方式,催化剂可以循环利用;由于催化剂保留在非极性溶剂中,只需将新的底物溶解到非极性溶剂中,就可以简单地启动新的反应。