Analogs of Grubbs' second generation catalyst with hydrophilic phosphine ligands: phase transfer activation of ring closing alkene metathesis.

Analogs of Grubbs' second generation catalyst with hydrophilic phosphine ligands are synthesized, and those with Cy(2)PCH(2)CH(2)N(CH(3))(3)(+) Cl(-) and Cy(2)PCHCH(2)CH(2)N(CH(3))(2)(+)CH(2)CH(2) Cl(-) give much faster ring closing metatheses under CH(2)Cl(2)/aqueous or CH(2)Cl(2)/aqueous HCl biphasic as opposed to CH(2)Cl(2) monophasic conditions. This is attributed to rapid phase transfer of the dissociated ligand to the aqueous phase, where under acidic conditions it is protonated.