ATRP of Methacrylates Catalysed by Homo- and Heterobimetallic Ruthenium Complexes

The catalytic activity of a series of ruthenium-based homo-and heterobimetallic complexes was determined by investigating the atom transfer radical polymerisation of methyl methacrylate. The complexes under investigation were [(arene)Ru(μ-Cl) 3 RuCl(C 2 H 4 )-(L)] (L = PCy 3 or a N-heterocyclic carbene ligand), [(p-cymene )-Ru(/l-Cl) 3 RuCl(=C=CHR)(PCy 3 )] (R = Ph or t-Bu), and [RuCl 2 -(p-cymene) {PCy 2 (CH2) 2 (n 5 -C 5 H 4 )TiX 2 (n 5 -C 5 H 5 )}] (X = Cl, F, and OBz). The catalytic activity of a variety of related [(p-cymene)-ClRu(μ-Cl) 2 Ru(O/\N)(=CHPh)] complexes (O^N is a Schiff base ligand) is also reported. The results clearly demonstrate that the ligands strongly affect the abili…