An Anthracene-Thiolate-Ligated Ruthenium Complex: Computational Insights into Z‑Stereoselective Cross Metathesis

Stereoselective control of the cross metathesis of olefins
is a
crucial aspect of synthetic procedures. In this study, we utilized
density functional theory methods to calculate thermodynamic and kinetic
descriptors to explore the stereoselectivity of cross metathesis between
allylbenzene and 2-butene-1,4-diyl diacetate. A ruthenium-based complex,
characterized primarily by an anthracene-9-thiolate ligand, was designed
in silico to completely restrict the E conformation of olefins through
a bottom-bound mechanism. Our investigation of the kinetics of all
feasible propagation routes demonstrated that Z-stereoisomers of metathesis
products can be synthesized with an energy cost of only 13 kcal/mol.
As a result, we encourage further research into the synthetic strategies
outlined in this work.