Using density functional theory with the B3LYP and M06 functionals, we show conclusively that the (H 2 IMes)(Cl) 2 Ru olefin metathesis mechanism is bottom-bound with the chlorides remaining trans throughout the reaction, thus attempts to effect diastereo-and enantioselectivity should focus on manipulations that maintain the trans-dichloro Ru geometry.Olefin metathesis 1 has become a powerful ubiquitous reaction for forming carbon-carbon double bonds. Improved ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts exhibiting higher initiation rates, 2 differential monomer reactivity, 3 enantioselectivity, 4 and improved thermal stability 5 have been reported recently. A long-standing controversy 6 has been whether the mechanism involves an isomerization from the initial trans-dichloro Ru (Fig. 1b) to a cis-dichloro Ru geometry (Fig. 1c) leading to a side-on mechanism. This mechanism was proposed by Grubbs 7 to rationalize the observed reactivity and selectivity, but without direct experimental evidence. We report here first principles studies showing conclusively that the mechanism is bottom-bound, with the chlorides remaining trans throughout the reaction, which explains available experimental evidence. Thus attempts to effect stereo-and enantioselectivity should focus on manipulations that maintain the trans-dichloro Ru geometry.It is generally believed that the mechanism 8 of Ru catalyzed olefin metathesis involves a symmetric process in which a Ru carbene coordinated with a substrate olefin (square pyramidal) rearranges via a pseudorotation to a metallacyclobutane (trigonal bipyramidal) which then rearranges productively to form a coordinated product olefin and a new Ru carbene (square pyramidal). The structures for the various intermediates have been established from low temperature 1 H-NMR studies, 9 X-ray crystallography structural data of isolated stable intermediates, 10 and theoretical investigations.
11Based on their density functional theory (DFT) studies (BP86) on the relative energies of the bottom-and side-bound pathways, Cavallo and Correa concluded 11b that the preferred reaction pathway is a delicate balance between electronic, steric, and solvent effects.12 This has led to several reports considering the side-bound pathway as highly significant, if not the most likely operative pathway. 3,6 We consider that this lack of a clear understanding of the catalytic pathway (side vs. bottom) is hindering the development of selective metathesis catalysts. To provide a basis for assessing the side-and bottom-bound metathesis pathways, we applied DFT methods to investigate the relative energies and the expected E : Z olefin product ratio of the cis-and trans-dichloro Ru pathways for the metathesis of E-and Z-2-butene with the Grubbs-II benzylidene catalyst (Fig. 1a).Truhlar and Zhao reported 13 that medium-range noncovalent interactions (dispersion forces) can have a dramatic effect on the ruthenium tricyclohexylphosphine (PCy 3 ) bond dissociation energies for both the first and second generation Grubbs catalysts. The M...