Stereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-2,3-disubstituted eight-membered medium-ring ethers based on Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of 3-alkoxy-2-propenyl glycolate esters and ring-closing olefin metathesis

A simple stereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-2,3-disubstituted medium-sized cyclic ethers has been developed based on geometry-selective synthesis of 3-alkoxy-2-propenyl glycolate esters, Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of the glycolate esters, and ring-closing olefin metathesis.     

Prevention of undesirable isomerization during olefin metathesis

1,4-Benzoquinones have been found to prevent olefin isomerization of a number of allylic ethers and long-chain aliphatic alkenes during ruthenium-catalyzed olefin metathesis reactions. Electron-deficient benzoquinones are the most effective additives for the prevention of olefin migration. This mild, inexpensive, and effective method to block olefin isomerization increases the synthetic utility of olefin metathesis via improvement of overall product yield and purity.     

Z- and Enantioselective Ring-Opening/Cross-Metathesis with Enol Ethers Catalyzed by Stereogenic-at-Ru Carbenes: Reactivity, Selectivity, and Curtin-Hammett Kinetics

The first instances of Z- and enantioselective Ru-catalyzed olefin metathesis are presented. Ring-opening/cross-metathesis (ROCM) reactions of oxabicyclic alkenes and enol ethers and a phenyl vinyl sulfide are promoted by 0.5-5.0 mol % of enantiomerically pure stereogenic-at-Ru complexes with an aryloxy chelate tethered to the N-heterocyclic carbene. Products are formed efficiently and with exceptional enantioselectivity (>98:2 enantiomer ratio). Surprisingly, the enantioselective ROCM reactions proceed with high Z selectivity (up to 98% Z). Moreover, reactions proceed with the opposite sense of enantioselectivity versus aryl olefins, which afford E isomers exclusively. Preliminary DFT calculations in support of Curtin-Hammett kinetics as well as initial models that account for the stereoselectivity levels and trends are provided.     

Synthesis and Lewis acid catalyzed Claisen rearrangement of 2-(1,3-oxazolin-2-yl)-substituted allyl vinyl ethers

Allyl vinyl ethers containing an acceptor function in the 2-position are useful substrates for the Lewis acid-catalyzed Claisen rearrangement. The first synthesis of acyclic 2-(1,3-oxazolin-2-yl)-substituted allyl vinyl ethers is reported. The Lewis acid catalyzed Claisen rearrangement of these allyl vinyl ethers afforded the rearrangement products with low to moderate diastereo- and enantioselectivity. The catalyzed rearrangement of chiral allyl vinyl ethers was investigated. The combination of substrate- and catalyst-induced diastereoselectivity led to unexpected and unprecedented results.     

A synergistic approach to polycyclics via a strategic utilization of Claisen rearrangement and olefin metathesis

Olefin metathesis promoted by a well-defined metal carbene complex has evolved into an efficient method for the construction of a broad range of carbocyclic and heterocyclic rings of varying size. The synthetic potential of the olefin metathesis has been further increased by combining various other C-C bond forming processes either in tandem or in sequence. Herein, application of Claisen rearrangement and olefin metathesis to prepare various intricate and/or biologically important targets has been described.     

Structure dependent rearrangement of the cyclopropylmethyl cation—isolation of a bicyclo[3.2.0]heptene

Access to 7-allyl substituted norbornene derivatives for tandem olefin metathesis via cationic rearrangement of cyclopropylmethanol substituted norbornenes is shown to be structure dependent. In some cases products that arise from cationic rearrangement of a cyclopropylmethyl cation are furnished. Thionyl chloride is shown to be superior to silica for inducing the desired rearrangement.     

Synthesis of cinnamyl-sesamol derivatives

A simple synthetic route to cinnamyl-sesamols has been developed starting from sesamol via Claisen rearrangement followed by olefin metathesis reaction.     

Ring-closing metathesis as a tool for the efficient preparation of chiral spirocyclic ethers from homoallylic alcohols

The preparation of chiral spirocyclic ethers via allylic etherification/olefin metathesis of homoallylic alcohols is investigated. This reaction sequence transforms the enantiopure substrate alcohols, synthesized by a one-pot asymmetric rhodium-catalyzed conjugate addition/metal-mediated allylation procedure, into the desired spiro ethers with full conversions and in excellent isolated yields. The synthetic sequence provides an efficient means for a rapid construction of functionalized spiro ethers in a stereoselective manner.     

Total Synthesis of (−)‐Enigmazole A

Total synthesis of (?)‐enigmazole A, a marine macrolide natural product with cytotoxic activity, has been accomplished. The tetrahydropyran moiety was constructed by means of a domino olefin cross‐metathesis/intramolecular oxa‐Michael addition of a δ‐hydroxy olefin. After coupling of advanced intermediates, the macrocycle was formed through gold‐catalyzed rearrangement of a propargylic benzoate, followed by ring‐closing metathesis of the resultant α,β‐unsaturated ketone.     

The synthesis of highly functionalized seven-membered allyl ethers using palladium-catalyzed alkoxyallylation of activated olefins and ring-closing olefin metathesis

The investigation of palladium-catalyzed alkoxyallylation of activated olefins, followed by ring-closing metathesis to synthesize functionalized seven-membered ring allyl ethers is described. The influence of the olefin substituents on the diastereoselectivity of the alkoxyallylation has also been examined.     

Strategies for expanding structural diversity available from olefin isomerization-claisen rearrangement reactions

Boron-substituted di(allyl) ethers provide an efficient conduit for expanding the structural diversity available from olefin isomerization-Claisen rearrangement (ICR) reactions. Easily prepared allyl propargyl ethers undergo chemoselective Zr(IV)-catalyzed hydroboration to afford the boron-substituted ICR substrates. The boron-substituted allyl residue undergoes chemoselective Ir(I)-catalyzed olefin isomerization and in situ Claisen rearrangement to afford stereodefined beta-boryl aldehyde products. Functionalization of the C-B linkage by oxidation or Suzuki cross-coupling provides a route to Claisen adducts previously inaccessible from the ICR methodology.     

A general model for selectivity in olefin cross metathesis

In recent years, olefin cross metathesis (CM) has emerged as a powerful and convenient synthetic technique in organic chemistry; however, as a general synthetic method, CM has been limited by the lack of predictability in product selectivity and stereoselectivity. Investigations into olefin cross metathesis with several classes of olefins, including substituted and functionalized styrenes, secondary allylic alcohols, tertiary allylic alcohols, and olefins with alpha-quaternary centers, have led to a general model useful for the prediction of product selectivity and stereoselectivity in cross metathesis. As a general ranking of olefin reactivity in CM, olefins can be categorized by their relative abilities to undergo homodimerization via cross metathesis and the susceptibility of their homodimers toward secondary metathesis reactions. When an olefin of high reactivity is reacted with an olefin of lower reactivity (sterically bulky, electron-deficient, etc.), selective cross metathesis can be achieved using feedstock stoichiometries as low as 1:1. By employing a metathesis catalyst with the appropriate activity, selective cross metathesis reactions can be achieved with a wide variety of electron-rich, electron-deficient, and sterically bulky olefins. Application of this model has allowed for the prediction and development of selective cross metathesis reactions, culminating in unprecedented three-component intermolecular cross metathesis reactions.     

苯乙烯内酯类天然产物的全合成进展

结合本研究小组的相关课题工作，综述了苯乙烯内酯类天然产物全合成方法的 研究进展。主要包括以呋喃甲醇类化合物的氧化重排反应、烯烃复分解环化反应（ RCM）和酸催化的酯化关环等作为关键反应的方法。     

Synthesis of oxepine-, oxocine- and azepine-annulated carbazole derivatives by combined Claisen rearrangement and diene/enyne metathesis

A new route to various medium ring heterocycle-annulated tetra-, penta- and hexacyclic carbazole derivatives has been developed using successive applications of three atom economic processes, viz. Claisen rearrangement, olefin metathesis and Diels-Alder reactions.     

Asymmetric synthesis of alpha-substituted aldehydes by Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation-alkene isomerization-Claisen rearrangement

[Structure: see text] Enantiospecific aliphatic Claisen rearrangement was realized with generally high chirality transfer. The requisite substrates were synthesized via Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) from easily obtained starting materials. After protection, the resultant bisallyl ethers underwent olefin isomerization and in situ Claisen rearrangement (ICR) to generate alpha-chiral aldehydes. Remarkable chemoselectivity in the olefin isomerization step was observed. An asymmetric synthesis of communiol A was accomplished applying this methodology.     

Formal total synthesis of stigmatellin A

An efficient and stereoselective approach for the formal total synthesis of Stigmatellin A has been described. The key steps involved in this synthesis are desymmetrization of the bicyclic olefin to introduce two methyl and two hydroxyl chiral centers, Friedel Crafts acylation, regioselective demethylation, Baker-Venkataraman rearrangement and Grubbs cross metathesis.     

Gamma-lactone-tethered ring-closing metathesis. A route to enantiomerically enriched gamma-lactones alpha,beta-fused to medium-sized rings

[reaction: see text] The stereoselective alkylation of alpha-(phenylsulfonyl)-beta-[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]-gamma-lactones obtained by the base-induced cyclization of enantiomerically enriched alpha-[(phenylthio)acyl]-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters and ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) are the basis of a new approach for gaining access to gamma-lactones that are alpha,beta-fused to medium-sized carbocycles and cyclic ethers.     

Ring-opening metathesis/oxy-cope rearrangement: a new strategy for the synthesis of bicyclic medium ring-containing compounds

Ring-opening/ring-closing metathesis on cyclobutene-containing substrates with angular oxygen functionality provides a stereospecific introduction of 1,5-bis-dienes required for an anion-accelerated oxy-Cope rearrangement. The reaction sequence offers generally a stereocontrolled preparation of a variety of medium ring-containing bicyclic ring systems, while rearrangement to the bicyclo[7,3,0]dodecane (9-5) system leads to a mixture of olefin isomers.     

Regioselectivity in the claisen rearrangement of bis-allylic alcohols: Electronic and steric effects of C-4 substituents

Enol ethers of 1,4-dien-3-ols in which one allylic double bond is substituted with a methoxyl or alkyl group at C-4 undergo Claisen rearrangement in which the unsubstituted olefin participates preferentially. Rearrangement to the substituted olefin has been shown to be retarded by both electronic and steric effects.     

Stereoselective olefin isomerization leading to asymmetric quaternary carbon construction

Chemo- and stereoselective Ir(I)-catalyzed isomerization of 1,1-disubstituted and trisubstituted allylic ethers and in situ [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of the resulting allyl vinyl ethers provide for the highly stereoselective construction of quaternary carbon stereocenters. The olefin isomerization-Claisen rearrangement (ICR) sequence allows adjacent quaternary-tertiary stereocenter relationships to be established with excellent diastereoselection. Several complementary strategies for enantioselective quaternary carbon synthesis derive directly from the ICR reaction design.