Structure and Reactivity of Alkyne-Chelated Ruthenium Alkylidene Complexes

The isolation and structural characterization of alkyne-bound Ru alkylidene complexes has been elusive. However, a sequential enyne ring-closing metathesis of a diyne moiety and metallotropic [1,3]-shift followed by a second enyne ring-closing metathesis allowed the formation of a highly stable alkyne-chelated ruthenium complex. The full characterization of this complex was realized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.