Metathesis catalysts and methods thereof

1. A compound of formula I:

wherein:

M is molybdenum or tungsten;

R 1 is an optionally substituted group selected from C 1-20 aliphatic, C 1-20 heteroaliphatic having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, phenyl, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated carbocyclic ring, an 8-10 membered bicyclic saturated, partially unsaturated or aryl ring, a 5-6 membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 7-10 membered bicyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an 8-10 membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

each of R 2 and R 3 is independently R′, —OR′, —SR′, —N(R′) 2 , —OC(O)R′, —SOR′, —SO 2 R′, —SO 2 N(R′) 2 , —C(O)N(R′) 2 , —NR′C(O)R′, or —NR′SO 2 R′;

m is 0-3;

Ring B is an optionally substituted group selected from phenyl or a 5-6 membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

each of p and q is independently 0-4;

each of Ring C and Ring D is independently an optionally substituted 5-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 nitrogen atoms;

each of R x , R y and R z is independently halogen, —OR′, —N(R′) 2 , —NR′C(O)R′, —NR′C(O)OR′, —NR′C(O)N(R′) 2 , —NR′SO 2 R′, —NR′SO 2 N(R′) 2 , —NR′OR′, or an optionally substituted group selected from C 1-20 aliphatic, C 1-20 heteroaliphatic having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, phenyl, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated carbocyclic ring, an 8-10 membered bicyclic saturated, partially unsaturated or aryl ring, a 5-6 membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 7-10 membered bicyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an 8-10 membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R 4 is an optionally substituted 5-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-2 nitrogen atoms; and

each R′ is independently hydrogen or an optionally substituted group selected from C 1-6 aliphatic, phenyl, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated carbocyclic ring, an 8-10 membered bicyclic saturated, partially unsaturated or aryl ring, a 5-6 membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 7-10 membered bicyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an 8-10 membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur; or:

two R′ groups on the same nitrogen atom are optionally taken together with the nitrogen atom to form an optionally substituted 3-8 membered, saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

or a compound of formula II:

wherein:

M is molybdenum or tungsten;

R 1 is an optionally substituted group selected from C 1-20 aliphatic, C 1-20 heteroaliphatic having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, phenyl, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated carbocyclic ring, an 8-10 membered bicyclic saturated, partially unsaturated or aryl ring, a 5-6 membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 7-10 membered bicyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an 8-10 membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R 2′ and R 3′ are taken together with their intervening metal atoms to form an optionally substituted 3-8 membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring having, in addition to the intervening metal atom, 0-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

m is 0-3;

Ring B is an optionally substituted group selected from phenyl or a 5-6 membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

each of p and q is independently 0-4;

each of Ring C and Ring D is independently an optionally substituted 5-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 nitrogen atoms;

each of R x , R y and R z is independently halogen, —OR′, —N(R′) 2 , —NR′C(O)R′, —NR′C(O)OR′, —NR′C(O)N(R′) 2 , —NR′SO 2 R′, —NR′SO 2 N(R′) 2 , —NR′OR′, or an optionally substituted group selected from C 1-20 aliphatic, C 1-20 heteroaliphatic having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, phenyl, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated carbocyclic ring, an 8-10 membered bicyclic saturated, partially unsaturated or aryl ring, a 5-6 membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 7-10 membered bicyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an 8-10 membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur;

R 4 is an optionally substituted 5-membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-2 nitrogen atoms; and

each R′ is independently hydrogen or an optionally substituted group selected from C 1-6 aliphatic, phenyl, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated carbocyclic ring, an 8-10 membered bicyclic saturated, partially unsaturated or aryl ring, a 5-6 membered monocyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 3-7 membered saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-3 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, a 7-10 membered bicyclic saturated or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, or an 8-10 membered bicyclic heteroaryl ring having 1-5 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur; or:

two R′ groups on the same nitrogen atom are optionally taken together with the nitrogen atom to form an optionally substituted 3-8 membered, saturated, partially unsaturated, or aryl ring having 1-4 heteroatoms independently selected from nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur.

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is a compound of formula I, and one of R 2 and R 3 is hydrogen and the other is optionally substituted C 1-20 aliphatic.

3. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is a compound of formula II.

4. The compound of claim 3 , wherein the compound has the structure of formula II-a:

5. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is optionally substituted C 1-20 aliphatic.

6. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is optionally substituted phenyl.

7. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is selected from

8. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 4 is optionally substituted pyrrolyl.

9. The compound of claim 1 , wherein each of Ring C and Ring D is independently optionally substituted pyrrolyl, imidazolyl or pyrazolyl.

10. The compound of claim 9 , wherein each of Ring C and Ring D is independently optionally substituted pyrrolyl.

11. The compound of claim 10 , wherein

12. The compound of claim 11 , wherein is

13. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is selected from

14. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 4 is bonded to M through a nitrogen atom.

15. The compound of claim 14 , wherein Ring B is optionally substituted phenyl or

16. The compound of claim 15 , wherein Ring B is

17. The compound of claim 14 , wherein

has the structure of

18. The compound of claim 14 , wherein M is molybdenum.

19. The compound of claim 14 , wherein M is tungsten.

20. The compound of claim 14 , wherein the compound is isolated.