Latent and switchable olefin metathesis catalysts

Many latent olefin metathesis initiators have been described in the recent years. In this symposium manuscript, we present our contribution to the field, based on the use of different heteroatoms; namely sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorous and selenium; as chelators in ruthenium bidentate benzylidenes. The steric and electronic parameters were thoroughly studied and used in order to prepare not only latent pre-catalysts but also thermo- and photo-switchable systems - effectively granting control over both reaction initiation and interruption.