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Chemistry

Mechanism of Grubbs' Catalyst in Olefin Metathesis

Quick fact

The mechanism of Grubbs' catalyst involves a series of [2+2] cycloadditions and cycloreversions, passing through a four-membered metallacyclobutane intermediate, a process that earned the 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for Yves Chauvin, Robert Grubbs, and Richard Schrock.

Why this is interesting

Imagine a molecular 'dance' where two alkenes swap their dance partners—the double bonds break and reform in new combinations, all thanks to a single ruthenium atom. This is olefin metathesis, but how does this seemingly impossible rearrangement actually happen?