Total Synthesis of Leiocarpin C and (+)‐Goniodiol via an Olefin Cross‐Metathesis Protocol

A stereoselective total synthesis of leiocarpin C ( 2 ) and (+)‐Goniodiol ( 1 ) by applying olefin cross‐metathesis and substrate directed dihydroxylation as the key steps is reported (Scheme 3).     

A New Synthesis of Benzofurans from Phenols via Claisen Rearrangement and Ring‐Closing Metathesis

Based on Claisen rearrangement, the double bond isomerization of O‐allyl function together with the formation of O‐vinyl function in one pot, and ring‐closing metathesis (RCM), various phenols were transformed into various benzofurans in good yields.     

Olefin Cross‐Metathesis: Studies towards the Total Synthesis of (+)‐Bitungolide F

A stereoselective synthesis of (5S,6S)‐6‐[(2S,5S,7R,8E,10E)‐5‐(benzyloxy)‐7‐{[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}‐11‐phenylundeca‐8,10‐dien‐2‐yl]‐5‐ethyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one (=(+)‐9‐O‐benzyl‐11‐O‐[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]bitungolide F) is reported. The strategy involves Gilman reaction, olefin cross‐metathesis, and Horner? Wadsworth? Emmons olefination as key steps.     

Synthesis of 3‐Aryl‐2,5‐Dihydro‐1‐Benzoxepines from Phenol via Ring‐Closing Metathesis

In this paper, the synthesis of 3‐aryl‐2,5‐dihydro‐1‐benzoxepines is described. While the reaction was started from phenol and based on the sequential reactions such as Claisen rearrangement, O‐alkylation, Wittig reaction, and ring‐closing metathesis (RCM), a series of new 3‐aryl‐1‐benzoxepines were prepared in good overall yields.     

Modular Total Synthesis of (–)‐Palmyrolide A and (+)‐(5S,7S)‐Palmyrolide A via Ring‐Closing Metathesis and Alkene Isomerization†

A pentamodule assembly approach has been established for total synthesis of the naturally occurring (–)‐palmyrolide A and (+)‐5,7‐epi‐palmyrolide A. By using the racemic tert‐butyl carbinol‐containing alkyl iodide, the two diastereoisomeric macrolides could be obtained from the same sequence of reactions, demonstrating the flexibility of the multimodule assembly strategy for diverted total synthesis.     

Ring‐Closing Metathesis on an Allyl‐Terminated Carbosilane Dendrimer

Grubbs' catalyst was used to prepare a series of carbosilane dendrimers with silacyclopentene peripheral groups, suitable for further elaboration to functional dendrimers. The efficiency of the ring closing metathesis reaction was found to be strongly dependent on the reaction temperature and the amount of catalyst used, as shown by ¹H NMR monitoring.     

Synthesis of C‐Butenyl Linked Disaccharides via Olefin Cross‐Metathesis

Several C‐butenyl linked disaccharides were pre pared in high yields by olefin cross‐metathesis.     

A Formal Total Synthesis of Eleutherobin Using the Ring‐Closing Metathesis (RCM) Reaction of a Densely Functionalized Diene as the Key Step: Investigation of the Unusual Kinetically Controlled RCM Stereochemistry

Asymmetric oxyallylation reactions and ring‐closing metathesis have been used to synthesize compound 3 , a key advanced intermediate used in the total synthesis of eleutherobin reported by Danishefsky and co‐workers. The aldehyde 6 , which is readily prepared from commercially available R‐(?)‐carvone in six steps in 30 % overall yield on multigram quantities, was converted into the diene 5 utilizing two stereoselective titanium‐mediated Hafner–Duthaler oxyallylation reactions. The reactions gave the desired products ( 8 and 12 ) in high yields (73 and 83 %, respectively) as single diastereoisomers, with the allylic alcohol already protected as the p‐methoxyphenyl (PMP) ether, which previous work has demonstrated actually aids ring‐closing metathesis compared to other protective groups and the corresponding free alcohol. Cyclization under forcing conditions, using Grubbs' second‐generation catalyst 13 , gave the ten‐membered carbocycle (E)‐ 14 in 64 % yield. This result is in sharp contrast to similar, but less functionalized, dienes, which have all undergone cyclization to give the Z stereoisomers exclusively. A detailed investigation of this unusual cyclization stereochemistry by computational methods has shown that the E isomer of the ten‐membered carbocycle is indeed less thermodynamically stable than the corresponding Z isomer. In fact, the selectivity is believed to be due to the dense functionality around the ruthenacyclobutane intermediate that favors the trans‐ruthenacycle, which ultimately leads to the less stable E isomer of the ten‐membered carbocycle under kinetic control. During the final synthetic manipulations the double bond of enedione (E)‐ 16 isomerized to the more thermodynamically stable enedione (Z)‐ 4 , giving access to the advanced key‐intermediate 3 , which was spectroscopically and analytically identical to the data reported by Danishefsky and co‐workers, and thereby completing the formal synthesis of eleutherobin.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Macrocyclic Heterobiaryl Derivatives of Molecular Asymmetry by Molybdenum‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Ring‐Closing Metathesis

Winding vine‐shaped molecular asymmetry is induced by enantioselective ring‐closing metathesis with a chiral molybdenum catalyst. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions through an E‐selective ring‐closing metathesis leading to macrocyclic bisazoles with enantioselectivities of up to 96 % ee.     

Ring‐Closing Olefin Metathesis for the Synthesis of Benzene Derivatives

Benzene derivatives were synthesized in excellent yield from 1,4,7‐trien‐3‐ols by tandem ruthenium‐catalyzed ring‐closing olefin metathesis (RCM)/dehydration. The method was extended to the tandem RCM/oxidation process to obtain phenol and aniline derivatives. This method displays many advantages over aromatic‐substitution‐based classical routes.     

Divergent Dendrimer Synthesis via the Passerini Three‐Component Reaction and Olefin Cross‐Metathesis

The combination of the Passerini reaction and olefin cross‐metathesis is shown to be a very useful approach for the divergent synthesis of dendrimers. Castor oil‐derived platform chemicals, such as 10‐undecenoic acid and 10‐undecenal, are reacted in a Passerini reaction with an unsaturated isocyanide to obtain a core unit having three terminal double bonds. Subsequent olefin cross‐metathesis with tert‐butyl acrylate, followed by hydrogenation of the double bonds and hydrolysis of the tert‐butyl ester, leads to an active core unit bearing three carboxylic acid groups as reactive sites. Iterative steps of the Passerini reaction with 10‐undecenal and 10‐isocyanodec‐1‐ene for branching, and olefin cross‐metathesis with tert‐butyl acrylate, followed by hydrogenation and hydrolysis allow the synthesis of a third‐generation dendrimer. All steps of the synthesis are carefully characterized by NMR, GPC, MS, and IR.

     

Synthesis of Diverse Oxa‐Carbocycle‐Annulated Flavones Using the Combined Claisen Rearrangement and Ring‐Closing Metathesis

A simple and efficient route for the synthesis of oxepine‐, oxocine‐, oxepinone‐, and dioxocine‐angularly annulated flavone skeletons has been developed. The combined Claisen rearrangement and the ring‐closing metathesis are used as key steps for the construction of C₇/C₈–C₆–C₆ tricyclic core structures.     

FeCl3‐Catalyzed Ring‐Closing Carbonyl–Olefin Metathesis

Exploiting catalytic carbonyl–olefin metathesis is an ongoing challenge in organic synthesis. Reported herein is an FeCl₃‐catalyzed ring‐closing carbonyl–olefin metathesis. The protocol allows access to a range of carbo‐/heterocyclic alkenes with good efficiency and excellent trans diastereoselectivity. The methodology presents one of the rare examples of catalytic ring‐closing carbonyl–olefin metathesis. This process is proposed to take place by FeCl₃‐catalyzed oxetane formation followed by retro‐ring‐opening to deliver metathesis products.     

Synthesis of Carbazole Alkaloids by Ring‐Closing Metathesis and Ring Rearrangement–Aromatization

Aprocess for the assembly of carbazole alkaloids has been developed on the basis of ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) and ringrearrangement–aromatization (RRA) as the key steps. This method is based on allyl Grignard addition to isatin derivatives to provide smooth access to 2,2‐diallyl 3‐oxindole derivatives through a 1,2‐allyl shift. The diallyl derivatives were used as RCM precursors to afford a novel class of spirocyclopentene‐3‐oxindole derivatives, which underwent a novel RRA reaction to afford carbazole derivatives. The synthetic sequence to carbazoles was shortened by combining the RCM and RRA steps in an orthogonal tandem catalytic process. The utility of this methodology was further demonstrated by the straightforward synthesis of carbazole alkaloids, including amukonal derivative, girinimbilol, heptaphylline, and bis(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methylcarbazole).     

A Retrospective on the Design and Synthesis of Novel Molecules through a Strategic Consideration of Metathesis and Suzuki–Miyaura Cross‐Coupling

Synergy in synthesis : Strategic consideration of metathesis and Suzuki–Miyaura (SM) cross‐coupling for C? C bond‐formation processes has opened up new and “green” synthetic routes to various complex targets. The use of this synergistic combination for the synthesis of supramolecular ligands, polyaromatic compounds, and complex natural products is covered in this Focus Review.

     

Formal Synthesis of (−)‐Cyclaradine Using Ring Closing Metathesis

The stereoselective formal synthesis of (?)‐cyclaradine from the inexpensively available starting material L ‐glutamic acid is described, using Eschenmoser's reagent, and applying Luche reduction, Grignard reaction, and ring closing metathesis (RCM) as the key steps.     

Phenylenevinylene Block Copolymers via Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Fully conjugated block copolymers containing 1,4‐ and 1,3‐phenylenevinylene repeating units can be prepared by the sequential ring opening metathesis polymerization of strained cyclophanedienes, initiated by ruthenium carbene complexes (Grubbs metathesis catalysts). The molecular weight of the constituent blocks can be tightly controlled by changing the catalyst to monomer ratio and the volume fraction of the block copolymers independently tailored by the ratio of the monomers employed. Extensive phase separation between the constituent blocks is observed in thin films of these polymers by atomic force microscopy and efficient energy transfer between blocks containing 1,4‐ and 1,3‐phenylenevinylene units can be seen in the photoluminescence of these materials.

     

Side‐Chain Modification and “Grafting Onto” via Olefin Cross‐Metathesis

Olefin cross‐metathesis is introduced as a versatile polymer side‐chain modification technique. The reaction of a poly(2‐oxazoline) featuring terminal double bonds in the side chains with a variety of functional acrylates has been successfully performed in the presence of Hoveyda–Grubbs second‐generation catalyst. Self‐metathesis, which would lead to polymer–polymer coupling, can be avoided by using an excess of the cross‐metathesis partner and a catalyst loading of 5 mol%. The results suggest that bulky acrylates reduce chain–chain coupling due to self‐metathesis. Moreover, different functional groups such as alkyl chains, hydroxyl, and allyl acetate groups, as well as an oligomeric poly(ethylene glycol) and a perfluorinated alkyl chain have been grafted with quantitative conversions.