A good bargain:: An inexpensive, air-stable ruthenium metathesis catalyst derived from α-asarone

The one-step synthesis of ruthenium carbene precatalyst 7 from inexpensive alpha-asarone [(E)-6] is described. This recyclable and easy to obtain complex can be used successfully in various types of metathesis (RCM, CM, enyne) as a cheaper and more potent substitute of the Hoveyda-type precatalyst 2b.