The Ru(η6-naphthalene)(η4-1,5-cyclooctadiene)/acetonitrile system as a homogeneous catalytic precursor for the fast isomerization of 1,5-cyclooctadiene and 1-hexene

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(91)80059-S

1,5-Cyclooctadiene and 1-hexene undergo isomerization to 1,3-cyclooctadiene and (E)-/(Z)-2-hexene, respectively, with high turnover number in the presence of the complex Ru(η⁶-naphthalene)(η⁴-1,5-cyclooctadiene) and acetonitrile.This high catalytic activity is observed only using acetonitrile as co-catalyst.A possible reaction mechanism, based on results from an 1H and 2H NMR study of the isomerization, is presented.