LN-1 and LN-2 are two Ru(II) complexes coordinated to the phosphine and amines simultaneously, each with two chlorides. PPh3 is the phosphine and the amine is piperidine (LN-1) and perhydroazepine (LN-2). The two compounds are complexes five-coordinated square pyramidal geometry, with the amine in the axial plane. LN-1 and LN-2 were tested for the first time as initiator for piperine self-metathesis olefin. The system variables chosen to this study were the reactional time (24, 48 and 72 h), catalyst:substrate ratio (1:1 and 1:10 mol) and temperature (25 e 50 ºC). Results were analyzed by GC-ME. None olefin metathesis product was noted in the experiments to 25 ºC for until 72 h, in any catalyst:substrate ration. However, to 50 ºC for 72 h, olefin metathesis product from piperine was observed. LN-1 presented yield of c.a. 29% of product in the mixture and LN-2 were c.a. 39%. The product is interesting and unheard, it has two 1,3-benzildiaxine groups, interleaved for one unsaturated carbon chain. In the experiments with catalyst:substrate ratio of 1:10 mol there was no product formation. The results were discussed in function of the electronic and steric properties of the ancillary ligand of LN1 and LN-2.

Diesters of norbornene 2,3-dicarboxylic acid (NBE-(COOR)2), in which R is an alkyl group, were synthesized from one-pot synthesis method with 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid and methanol and ethanol. The new monomers were, respectively, the dimethyl ester NBE-(COOCH3)2 and diethyl ester NBE-(COOCH2CH3)2. Norbornene was mixed with these monomers at different proportions and copolymerized via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) with 1st generation Grubbs' catalyst. All experiments were conducted under air atmosphere to obtain the isolated polymer. Yield results show that elongation of the R group influenced the copolymerization process. At the same co-monomer proportion, the yield decreases as a function of the R group elongation. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed and, in all cases, more than one thermal degradation process was observed. The first process was assigned to pendent group degradation, whereas the second process was assigned to main chain degradation. These thermal processes were also influenced by different elongation of the aliphatic group of the pendent chain.

Some aspects of the olefin metathesis reactions are summarized here (types of reactions, mechanism and catalysts). In particular, the research groups that have been working on this chemistry in Brazil are presented. The main goal of this paper is to make this type of reaction more widely known in the Brazilian chemical community.