A pyridine-containing ruthenium–indenylidene complex: Synthesis and activity in ring-closing metathesis

The reaction of Cl2Ru(PCy3)2(3-phenylindenylidene) with excess pyridine leads to the new pyridine-containing ruthenium-based complex: Cl2Ru(PCy3)(Py)2(3-phenylindenylidene) in good yield. This catalyst has been fully characterized and tested in ring-closing metathesis. Its moderate activity has been examined by kinetic studies using several substrates and different reaction conditions.