Catalytic Tail-to-Tail Selective Dimerization of Methyl Methacrylate Promoted by a Ruthenium(0) Complex

Ru(eta(6)-naphthalene)(eta(4)-1,5-COD) (1) (10 mol %) catalyzes the tail-to-tail dimerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in MeCN in 74% yield at 70 degrees C for 4 h. Without use of solvent complex 1 (1 mol %) rapidly catalyzes the tail-to-tail dimerization and trimerization of MMA in 59% and 23% yields, respectively, at 70 degrees C for 5 min.