Methods of making olefinic

1. A method of making a second olefin using a first olefin, comprising steps (A) and (B):

(A) performing a metathesis reaction with the first olefin in the presence of a metal complex configured to catalyze said metathesis reaction in order to obtain a reaction mixture containing an olefin; and

(B) epoxidizing the olefin contained in the reaction mixture obtained in step (A) to form an epoxide, and deoxygenizing said epoxide to form said second olefin;

wherein the first olefin comprises an E-isomer and a Z-isomer of the olefin; wherein the ratio of the E-isomer to the Z-isomer in the first olefin is in the range of from 1:1 to 9:1;

wherein said second olefin is said Z-isomer, further comprising enrichment of the E-isomer over the Z-isomer, and subsequent conversion of the E-isomer into the Z-isomer to form the second olefin, wherein step (A) comprises step (A1):

(A1) subjecting the first olefin comprising a mixture of the E-isomer and the Z-isomer to a cross metathesis reaction with a third olefin in the presence of the metal complex, wherein the metal complex is configured to favour reaction of said third olefin with said Z-isomer over the reaction of said third olefin with said E-isomer, wherein said third olefin is a C 2-10 olefin;

and further comprising conversion of the E-isomer enriched in step (A1) to the Z-isomer, the conversion comprising steps (B1) to (B4):

(B1) epoxidizing the E-isomer to form the epoxide;

(B2) subjecting the epoxide obtained in step (B1) to hydrolysis to form a diol, or alcoholysis to form a beta-hydroxy ether;

(B3) converting the diol or beta-hydroxy ether obtained in step (B2) to a 1,3-dioxolane; and

(B4) degrading the 1,3-dioxolane obtained in step (B3) to form the second olefin in the form of its Z-isomer; and

wherein the metal complex is selected from a compound of formula (I):

wherein

M=Mo or W

X=0 or N-R 5 ;

R 1 =H .

R 2 =CMe 3 ; CMe 2 Ph; or o-C 1-6 -alkoxyphenyl, optionally substituted;

R 3 =substituted aryloxy;

R 4 =pyrrol-1-yl, 2,5-dimethylpyrrol-1-yl; or 2,5-diphenylpyrrol-1-yl;

or substituted or unsubstituted indol-1-yl;

R 5 =C 6-20 aryl or C 4-10 alkyl; optionally substituted.

R z =neutral ligand;

n=0 or 1;

or

a compound of formula (II):

wherein

M=Ru;

each of R 1 and L is a neutral ligand;

r=1-3;

each of R 4 and R 5 is independently bonded to M through sulfur or oxygen; or R 4 and R 5 are halogen;

R 14 is a carbene;

or

a compound of formula (III):

wherein

Q is a hydrocarbylene, or alkyl-substituted hydrocarbylene;

Q* forms a carbon-ruthenium bond with the carbon from the R 3 group;

X 1 is nitrate, or C 1-20 alkylcarboxylate;

R 3 is cycloalkyl or an alkyl substituted cycloalkyl group;

R 4 is an alkyl substituted aryl group;

Z is alkyl; and

R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are hydrogen.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said third olefin is ethylene.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the E-isomer to the Z-isomer is in the range of from 2:1 to 9:1.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein step (B3) comprises reacting the diol obtained in step (B2) with thiophosgen or 1,1′-thiocarbonyldiimidazol; and step (B4) comprises reacting the 1,3-dioxolane with a trialkylphosphite; or

wherein step (B3) comprises reacting the diol or beta-hydroxy ether obtained in step (B2) with an ortho ester; and step (B4) comprises pyrolysis of the formed 1,3-dioxolane.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first olefin used in step (A) comprises a mixture of an E-9-dodecenoate and a Z-9-dodecenoate, the olefin contained in the reaction mixture obtained in step (A) is the E-9-dodecenoate, and the second olefin obtained after step (B) is the Z-9-dodecenoate.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the Z-isomer to the E-isomer is at least 9:1.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second olefin is said E-isomer, and step (A) comprises step (A11):

(A11) subjecting the first olefin to a cross metathesis reaction with a fourth olefin in the presence of the metal complex to form a fifth olefin, wherein the metal complex is configured to favour the formation of the Z-isomer over the formation of the E-isomer of the fifth olefin.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the subsequent conversion of the Z-isomer into the E-isomer to form the second olefin, wherein step (B) comprises steps (B11) to (B14):

(B11) epoxidizing said Z-isomer to form the epoxide;

(B12) subjecting the epoxide obtained in step (B11) to hydrolysis to form a diol or to alcoholysis to form a beta-hydroxy ether;

(B13) converting the diol or beta-hydroxy ether obtained in step (B12) to a 1,3-dioxolane; and

(B14) degrading the 1,3-dioxolane obtained in step (B13) to form the second olefin in the form of its E-isomer.

9. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the first olefin comprises an E-isomer and a Z-isomer of the olefin; and wherein the ratio of the Z-isomer to the E-isomer is at least 9:1; wherein said second olefin is said E-isomer, and step (A) comprises step (A11):

(A11) subjecting the first olefin to a cross metathesis reaction with a fourth olefin in the presence of the metal complex to form a fifth olefin, wherein the metal complex is configured to favour the formation of the Z-isomer over the formation of the E-isomer of the fifth olefin;

and further comprising the subsequent conversion of the Z-isomer into the E-isomer to form the second olefin, wherein step (B) comprises steps (B11) to (B14):

(B11) epoxidizing said Z-isomer to form the expoxide;

(B12) subjecting the epoxide obtained in step (B11) to hydrolysis to form a diol or to alcoholysis to form a beta-hydroxy ether;

(B13) converting the diol or beta-hydroxy ether obtained in step (B12) to a 1,3-dioxolane; and

(B14) degrading the 1,3-dioxolane obtained in step (B13) to form the second olefin in the form of its E-isomer.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first and the fourth olefin are identical and are a 9-decenoate.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is selected from

(Mes=mesityl; Cy=cyclohexyl; DIPP=diisopropyphenyl; TBS=tent.-butyldimethylsilyl; mes=mesitylene; Ad=1-adamantyl; Ph=phenyl; TMS=trimethylsilyl, Me=methyl; Pr=propyl).

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein in compound II, R 4 and R 5 are Cl.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first olefin bears one or more functional groups.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said one or more functional groups are selected from ester groups, ether groups, amido groups, halogen groups and protected hydroxyl groups, protected carboxylic groups and protected aldehyde groups.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein in compound I, R 3 is substituted phenyloxy, substituted naphthyl-2-oxy or substituted 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthyl-2-oxy, or substituted naphthyl-1-oxy.