Carboxyl Graphene as a Superior Support for Bulky Ruthenium-Based Olefin Metathesis Catalyst

A Hoveyda-type catalyst decorated with two quaternary ammonium tags was synthesized and noncovalently grafted on SiO2, SBA-15, and on carboxyl graphene. A comparative study showed that the efficiency of the dual-anchored heterogeneous catalysts was highly dependent on the properties of the supporting material with graphene outperforming silicate supports. The graphene-immobilized complex exhibited excellent efficiency reflected in turnover numbers obtained in ring-closing metathesis and in self-metathesis of 1-decene. Importantly, the solid-supported catalyst assured increased recyclability with no ruthenium leaching as confirmed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.