Pushing the Bounds of Olefin Metathesis with Vanadium

Olefin metathesis has been a key player in organic and polymer synthesis for over 50 years. While countless catalysts have been reported over this time, new compounds that offer improved selectivity, efficiency, robustness, and/or cost-effectiveness are still highly desired. This minireview will detail efforts made in this regard through the development of catalysts based on abundant and inexpensive vanadium. Special attention will be given to reports within the past three years concerning ring-opening metathesis polymerization of low ring-strain cyclic olefins and expansion to other olefin metathesis transformations, such as cross-metathesis.