Easily accessible ring opening metathesis and atom transfer radical polymerization catalysts based on arene, norbornadiene and cyclooctadiene ruthenium complexes bearing Schiff base ligands

A group of four mixed ligand ruthenium(II)-Schiff base complexes has been synthesized and characterized. These complexes are easily accessible from [RuCl2(p-cymene)](2), [RUCl2(NBD)](n), [RuCl2-(COD)](x) and salicylaldimine salts. They have been found to serve as good catalyst precursors for ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of different vinyl monomers. The catalytic activity and the control over the produced polymer can be dramatically improved after the addition of additives such as Et2AlCl and (n-Bu)(2)NH.