XiMo’s Mo-, W-catalysts offer novel chemical opportunities for the organic chemists affording stereochemistries that are not attainable with the so far more frequently used Ru-catalysts. Several Mo and W based catalysts have extremely high Z-selectivity (up to 99%), which is a critical asset in various academic and industrial projects.
Often the actual Z-isomer is responsible exclusively for the biological activity (e.g. pheromones, or drug substances). Furthermore, Z-selective olefins can be further converted to products with the required stereochemistry.
Z-selective Cross-Metathesis of Allylic Amides
Hoveyda, Schrock et al. Z-Selective Catalytic Olefin Cross-Metathesis Nature 2011, 471, 461.
