The present application provides, among other things, compounds and methods for metathesis reactions. In some embodiments, provided compounds promote highly efficient and highly Z-selective metathesis. In some embodiments, provided compounds and methods are particularly useful for producing allyl alcohols. In some embodiments, provided compounds have the structure of formula I. In some embodiments, provided compounds comprise ruthenium, and a ligand bonded to ruthenium through a sulfur atom.
Three naphthalene-based analogues (4 a-c) of the Hoveyda-Grubbsmetathesiscatalyst exhibited immense differences in reactivity. Systematic structural and spectroscopic studies revealed that the ruthenafurane ring present in all 2-isopropoxyarylidene chelates possesses some aromatic character, which inhibits catalystactivity. This aromatic stabilization within the chelate ring may be controlled by