Rapidly Initiating Ruthenium Olefin‐Metathesis Catalysts

Vacancies: Protonation of the ruthenium carbide compounds [Cl2(L)(PR3)RuC:] gives the 14-electron four-coordinate ruthenium phosphonium alkylidenes [Cl2(L)RuCH(PR3)]+[B(X)4]− (see scheme). These compounds which already have a vacant coordination site provide direct access to the active species in olefin metathesis catalysis and thus very fast initiation. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2004/z461374_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.