Olefin metathesis initiators bearing thiazol-2-ylidene ligands

A compound, having general formula (I):

• wherein:
• M is Ru or Os;
• n is 0, 1 or 2;
• X1 and X2 are independently anionic ligands;
• L is any neutral 2-electron donor ligand;
• m is 1 or 2;
• R6 and R7 are each independently hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted group selected from the group consisting of C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl. C2-C20 alkynyl, aryl, C1-C20 carboxylate, C1-C20 alkoxy, C2-C20 alkenyloxy, C2-C20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C2-C20 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-C20 alkylthio, C1-C20 alkylsulfonyl, and C1-C20 alkylsulfinyl;
• and
• L1 is a thiazol-2-ylidene ligand of formula (II):
• wherein
• R4 and R5 are each independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or, together with the carbons carrying them, form a substituted or unsubstituted, fused 4-8 membered carbocylic ring or a substituted or unsubstituted, fused aromatic ring;
• and
• R1, R2, and R3 are collectively defined as combination (a) or combination (b):
• (a) each R1 is independently a primary or secondary C1-C4 alkyl group;
• each R2 is independently H;
• and R3 is independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl, or substituted or unsubstituted anthracenyl, or a functional group selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxyl, sulfhydryl, cyano, cyanato, thiocyanato, amino, nitro, nitroso, sulfa, sulfonato, boryl, borono, phosphono, phosphonato, phosphinato, phospho, phosphino, and silyloxy;
• or
• (b) each R1 is H;
• each R2 is independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C8 alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl, or substituted or unsubstituted anthracenyl;
• and R3 is H.