Olefin-Metathesis Catalysts for the Preparation of Molecules and Materials (Nobel Lecture 2005)**
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NOBEL LECTURES DOI: 10.1002/adsc.200600523 Olefin-Metathesis Catalysts for the Preparation of Molecules and Materials (Nobel Lecture 2005)** Robert H. Grubbsa,* a Victor and Elizabeth Atkins Professor of Chemistry Arnold and Mabel Beckman Laboratories of Chemical Synthesis California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA Fax : (+1)-626–564–9297 [**] Copyright The Nobel Foundation 2005. We thank the Nobel Foundation, Stockholm, for permission to print this lecture Received: February 21, 2006 This is a story of our exploration of the olefin-meta- ly added to this reaction, 1-butene was again ob- thesis reaction, a reaction that has been the major served. This discovery has since served as the founda- emphasis of my independent research. As with all sto- tion for an amazing array of nickel chemistry and cat- ries of scientific discovery, there are three compo- alysis. In addition, as nickel had been found to possess nents: the discoveries, the resulting applications, and, unexpected reactivity, other metal salts were also in- perhaps the most important of all, the people in- vestigated. In particular, when titanium and zirconium volved. Starting from observations made from seem- halides were used in combination with alkyl alumi- ingly unrelated work, our investigations into the fun- num compounds, a new form of polyethylene was ob- damental chemistry of this transformation have been tained. Natta further demonstrated that similar cata- an exciting journey, with major advances often result- lysts could promote the formation of stereoregular ing from complete surprises, mistakes, and simple in- polymers from propylene. The 1963 Nobel Prize in tuition. Ultimately, these efforts have contributed to Chemistry was awarded to Ziegler and Natta for this olefin metathesis becoming the indispensable synthet- work. ic tool that it is today.[1] The application of Ziegler–Natta-type systems toward the polymerization of cyclic olefins afforded additional unexpected results. A group at DuPont ob- served that the polymerization of norbornene did not produce a saturated polymer as expected, but instead afforded an unsaturated polymer in which one of the rings had been opened. While surprising, the origin of this unexpected polymeric structure was not to be pursued until later. Natta subsequently observed a similar result when he attempted to polymerize cyclo- pentene using tungsten and molybdenum halides—he, too, obtained a ring-opened, unsaturated polymer. Fi- nally, Banks and Bailey of Phillips Petroleum Co., while investigating the possible polymerization of pro- pylene over cobalt molybdate, found instead the for- Much of modern organometallic and polymer mation of ethylene and 2-butene. These three obser- chemistry, as we know it, started with a chance obser- vations, seemingly unrelated, were beginning to indi- vation made in the early 1950s by the Ziegler group cate a fundamentally new olefin transformation.[3] in Mülheim, Germany.[2] During this time, Ziegler was My involvement with this puzzle started in 1967 continuing work that had been initiated during World while I was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford. Jim War II in exploring the use of alkyl aluminum com- Collman, my postdoctoral mentor, had just returned plexes for the oligomerization of ethylene to produce from a trip to Phillips Petroleum, where he had lubricating oils. On one occasion, it was noted that learned of an amazing reaction that converted propyl- this reaction produced 1-butene from ethylene instead ene into ethylene and 2-butene. During a group meet- of the C10–C20 hydrocarbons normally observed. Sub- ing (Barry Sharpless, Nobel Prize 2001 was also a sequent analysis of the reaction autoclave found the member of the Collman group at that time), we presence of nickel. When nickel salts were deliberate- began to discuss possible mechanisms for this trans- 34 Adv. Synth. Catal. 2007, 349,34–40 Olefin-Metathesis Catalysts NOBEL LECTURES formation. With my earlier training in mechanistic or- be addressed in detail. Rather than using a cross- ganic chemistry as an undergraduate and masters stu- metathesis reaction that would require us to analyze dent in the laboratories of Merle Battiste, and as a the role of alkyl groups on the intermediates, we in- doctoral student with Ron Breslow, I felt this un- stead selected to study the simplest system possible: known reaction mechanism would be an ideal prob- isotopic substitution on a ring-closing metathesis lem to study. (RCM) reaction. Around this time, Calderon and his group at Good- The RCM of 1,7-octadiene generates cyclohexene year had developed a soluble catalyst system that and ethylene (Scheme 1). Cyclohexene is one of the could not only induce polymerization via ring-open- ing, but also convert propylene into ethylene and 2- butene.. Calderons observations established that the polymerization of cyclic olefins observed by DuPont and Natta and the scrambling of acyclic olefins ob- served by Banks and Bailey were similar reactions. He also established that the mechanism of this reac- tion involved the cleavage of carbon–carbon double bonds rather than a transfer of alkyl groups between Scheme 1. Ring-closing metathesis of 1,7-octadiene. olefins through single-bond cleavage. This first critical mechanistic observation set the stage for subsequent studies. Banks and Bailey went on to propose a “qua- few simple cyclic olefins that will not undergo subse- sicyclobutane” mechanism to account for their inter- quent metathesis reactions. Consequently, the fate of change reaction that was also consistent with Calder- the two olefins in 1,7-octadiene can be determined by ons results. Other mechanisms were also proposed to examination of the metathesis products. If the pair- account for this transformation, now termed olefin wise mechanisms involving even numbers of carbon metathesis. What all these mechanisms had in atoms were involved, the other two carbon atoms common was the pair-wise involvement of carbon would be required to couple together. In contrast, the atoms in reaction intermediates. Theoretical studies Chauvin mechanism would be expected to scramble of this reaction carried out by Frank Mango at Shell the two terminal carbon atoms. A mixture of 1,1,8,8- supported this pair-wise exchange of two-carbon frag- tetradeutero-1,7-octadiene and 1,7-octadiene was ments.[4] used to investigate this. In the simplest case, the even- My independent career started at Michigan State carbon mechanisms should produce only ethylene and University in 1968, where I proposed an alternative tetradeuteroethylene, while the odd-carbon mecha- pair-wise mechanism and initiated experimental work. nisms should afford a statistical mixture of ethylene, Shortly thereafter, however, a growing body of evi- dideuteroethylene, and tetradeuteroethylene in a dence against such a mechanism began to appear. 1:2:1 ratio. Careful analysis of all of our experiments While investigating the effect of acyclic olefins in de- found that a statistical mixture of ethylene com- termining the molecular weight of polypentenamers, pounds was kinetically formed in this reaction, a Chauvin and HØrrison observed products that were result consistent with the prediction made using the not consistent with the diolefin metal complexes pro- Chauvin (odd-carbon) mechanism. Subsequent studies posed in the “quasicyclobutane”-type mechanisms. by Katz on related systems provided additional sup- They instead proposed that the reaction did not go port for this conclusion.[6] through a diolefin metal complex, but rather via a By determining the key reaction intermediates in one-carbon metal carbene complex and metallocyclo- olefin metathesis, these combined mechanistic studies butanes; intermediates that contain an odd number of now enabled the use of rational design for further cat- carbon atoms. In a similar study, Katz proposed an alyst optimization. Prior to this time, metathesis cata- analogous mechanism where he was able to rational- lysts were produced utilizing inconsistent, ill-defined ize the observations that Chauvin had found to be in- systems. By confirming the non-pair-wise mechanism consistent with his non-pair-wise mechanism. Chuck of Chauvin, the identification of new metal alkylidene Casey subsequently went on to find a model for this (metal carbene) complexes capable of promoting transformation utilizing preformed metal carbene olefin metathesis now became our target for further complexes, and Richard Schrock was able to deter- improving reaction efficiency. mine that metal carbene complexes could, in fact, be Fred Tebbe, a co-worker of Schrock during his time generated under conditions similar to those used to at DuPont, developed one of the first well-defined prepare Ziegler–Natta-type catalysts.[5] Incorporating metathesis systems. Now known as the Tebbe reagent, this new information into our mechanistic consider- titanium complex 1, a metal carbene precursor, was ation, we designed an experiment that would allow found to exhibit metathesis activity in addition to its most of the ambiguities of the Chauvin experiment to ability to promote Wittig-type reactions on esters. As Adv. Synth. Catal. 2007, 349,34–40 www.asc.wiley-vch.de 35 NOBEL LECTURES R. H. Grubbs the Tebbe catalyst was well-defined, both the starting group-tolerant catalysts would be crucial. Once again, and propagating carbene species could now be ob- serendipity would play a role in achieving this objec- served during a metathesis reaction, making it an tive. ideal system for mechanistic