Ruthenium Trichloride, Tricyclohexyl- phosphane, 1-Alkynes, Magnesium, Hydrogen, and Water-Ingredients of an Efficient One-Pot Synthesis of Ruthenium Catalysts for Olefin Metathesis.

An active role is played by MgCl2 during the conversion of the vinylidene precursor 2 into carbenes 3 (R=H, Ph; L=P(C6 H11 )3 ). These complexes can be prepared in a convenient and very efficient one-pot synthesis and have a catalytic activity in metathesis comparable to that of Grubbs compound (Ph instead of CH2 R). © 1998 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, Fed. Rep. of Germany.