The syntheses and activities of polystyrene-supported olefin metathesis catalysts based on Cl₂(PR₃)₂Ru = CH-CH = CPh₂

A series of olefin metathesis catalysts based on the Cl₂(PR₃)₂Ru = CH-CH = CPh₂ olefin metathesis catalysts have been attached to a 2% cross-linked polystyrene-divinylbenzene solid support. We have carried out a comparative activity study of these solid-phase catalysts and their homogeneous analogs and demonstrated that the lifetime of the supported ruthenium complexes can be extended through recycling and re-using the suported phase catalyst. These solid-phase catalysts constitute the first example of a polymer-supported well-defined olefin metathesis catalyst that produces living polymers in solution.