Protection of Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalysts by Encapsulation in a Self‐assembled Resorcinarene Capsule

Catalyst encapsulation is examined as a means of increasing the productivity of olefin metathesis catalysts. Commercially available, cationic ruthenium metathesis catalysts were incorporated into a supramolecular resorcin[4]arene capsule. Encapsulation increased catalyst stability in water‐saturated toluene, delivering higher metathesis yields than the parent, non‐encapsulated Hoveyda catalyst in the same reaction medium. In the capsule: Encapsulation of cationic Ru catalysts in a supramolecular resorcin[4]arene capsule increases catalyst stability, delivering higher metathesis yields in water‐saturated toluene than the parent, non‐encapsulated second‐generation Hoveyda catalyst.