Late-stage Modification of Cage Diones by Tandem Metathesis

Herein, we report the application of tandem ring-opening cross-metathesis (ROCM) and tandem ring-opening cross-metathesis followed by cross-metathesis (ROCM/CM) in highly strained diastereomeric heptacyclic cage diones (HCCD's) catalyzed by ruthenium catalysts. These caged diastereomeric compounds have a high degree of ring strain as well as steric congestion. Therefore, the present work related to ROCM is unique and intricate as compared to simple norbornene derivatives. It is useful to prepare new hexacyclic cage derivatives suitable for high-energy density materials. The synthetic strategy of starting cage compounds features the Diels-Alder reaction, and [2+2] photocycloaddition as key steps.     

Terminal Alkyne-Ethylene Cross-Metathesis: Reaction of 1-Substituted Propargyl Esters at Elevated Ethylene Pressure

Substituted propargylic esters, resistant to complete ethylene cross-metathesis at ambient pressure, underwent cross-metathesis with ethylene at elevated pressure (4 atm) to give 2-substituted butadienes in good to excellent yields. Enantioenriched propargylic acetates, obtained through enzymatic kinetic resolution of secondary propargyl alcohols, similarly underwent ethylene metathesis with retention of stereochemistry at the chiral center.     

Synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes via olefin cross-metathesis

[formula: see text] Trisubstituted alkenes have been prepared for the first time via intermolecular olefin cross-metathesis, using 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene ruthenium alkylidene complexes 3a,b in good yields with moderate E selectivity. In addition, protected alcohols near the geminal disubstituted olefin improve reactivity for cross-metathesis.     

Allyl sulfides are privileged substrates in aqueous cross-metathesis: application to site-selective protein modification

Allyl sulfides undergo efficient cross-metathesis in aqueous media with Hoveyda-Grubbs second generation catalyst 1. The high reactivity of allyl sulfides in cross-metathesis was exploited in the first examples of cross-metathesis on a protein surface. S-Allylcysteine was incorporated chemically into the protein, providing the requisite allyl sulfide handle. Preliminary efforts to genetically incorporate S-allylcysteine into proteins are also reported.     

Functionalization of octavinylsilsesquioxane by ruthenium-catalyzed silylative coupling versus cross-metathesis

Functionalization of octavinylsilsesquioxane (Vi(8)T(8), 1) by two reactions catalyzed by ruthenium complexes is reported: a silylative coupling reaction catalyzed by [RuHCl(CO)(PCy(3))(2)] (I) and cross-metathesis catalyzed by first- (II) and second-generation (III) Grubbs' catalysts. The two reactions of 1 with styrene take place highly regio- and stereoselectively (the X-ray structure of the product 2 has also been obtained); the cross-metathesis of 1-hexene and allyltrimethylsilane occurs quite effectively, whereas the silylative coupling with these compounds gives a mixture of isomers. Functionalization of 1 with heteroatom-substituted vinyl derivatives (Si, O, N) by silylative coupling reaction has been found to be highly efficient, but cross-metathesis appears to be the more effective method for the synthesis of S-substituted vinyl-silsesquioxane.     

Synthesis of symmetrical trisubstituted olefins by cross metathesis

[reaction: see text] Trisubstituted alkenes have been prepared via intermolecular olefin cross-metathesis (CM) between alpha-olefins and symmetrically 1,1-disubstituted olefins using an imidazolylidene ruthenium benzylidene complex. Of particular interest is the synthesis of isoprenoid/prenyl groups by a simple solvent-free CM reaction with isobutylene. In addition, prenyl groups can also be installed by a cross-metathesis of 2-methyl-2-butene with a variety of alpha-olefins at room temperature with low catalyst loadings.     

Cross-metathesis of allyl halides with olefins bearing an α-alkoxy amide group

We have examined whether the allyl halide cross-metathesis reaction tolerates α-alkoxy amide groups. Ruthenium-based catalysts I-III did not catalyze the cross-metathesis of allyl halides in the presence of an α-alkoxy N,N-dimethylamide group to any appreciable extent, but the reaction could tolerate either a bulky N,N-diisopropylamide or Weinreb amide group. In particular, the Grubbs-Hoveyda-Blechert 2nd generation catalyst (III) efficiently catalyzed the cross-metathesis of allyl halides with olefins bearing a Weinreb amide group.     

Synthesis of the pro-gly dipeptide alkene isostere using olefin cross-metathesis

An approach to the synthesis of dipeptide olefin isosteres using intermolecular olefin cross-metathesis is presented. In particular, a synthesis of the Pro-Gly isostere (1) is reported. Conversion of N-BOC-proline into the corresponding vinyl-substituted carbamate provides the N-terminal cross-metathesis partner (2). Methyl 3-butenoate (3) is employed as the C-terminal component. Treatment of the two partners in an optimized molar ratio affords the cross product 1 (83% yield). Three other examples are demonstrated to evaluate the potential of the approach.     

Microwave-accelerated cross-metathesis reactions of N-allyl amino acid substrates

Microwave heating has been utilised for the cross-metathesis reaction of N-allyl amino acid substrates to generate olefin homodimers. Remarkable acceleration of the cross-metathesis reaction (minutes compared to hours) over conventional reflux heating was observed. In addition, improved reaction yields and similar E/Z ratios for the cross-metathesis products were achieved.     

Cross-metathesis approach to a (2E,4E)-dienoic acid intermediate for the synthesis of elaiolide

A (2E,4E)-7-hydroxy-2,4-dienoic acid, previously employed as a key intermediate for the total synthesis of the macrodiolide antibiotic elaiolide, was prepared stereoselectively and concisely from (S)-2-methyl-3-trityloxypropanal by a three-step sequence consisting of Brown’s asymmetric crotylboration, olefin cross-metathesis, and alkaline treatment. Ethyl 3-pivaloyloxy-4-pentenoate was used as a masked dienoate in the cross-metathesis step.     

Cross-metathesis of α-methylene-β-lactams: the first tetrasubstituted alkenes by CM

α-Alkylidene-β-lactams have been prepared in good to excellent yields by olefin cross-metathesis. Electron-poor α-methylene-β-lactams undergo cross-metathesis more rapidly and efficiently than more electron-rich analogs. Significantly, tetrasubstituted alkenes have for the first time been accessed by CM reactions.     

Recent developments in olefin cross-metathesis

Among the many types of transition-metal-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reactions, olefin metathesis has come to the fore in recent years owing to the wide range of transformations that are possible with commercially available and easily handled catalysts. Consequently, olefin metathesis is now widely considered as one of the most powerful synthetic tools in organic chemistry. Until recently the intermolecular variant of this reaction, cross-metathesis, had been neglected despite its potential. With the evolution of new catalysts, the selectivity, efficiency, and functional-group compatibility of this reaction have improved to a level that was unimaginable just a few years ago. These advances, together with a better understanding of the mechanism and catalyst-substrate interactions, have brought us to a stage where more and more researchers are employing cross-metathesis reactions in multistep procedures and in the synthesis of natural products. The recent inclusion of alkynes and hindered bicyclic olefins as viable substrates for bimolecular metathesis coupling, the discovery of enantioselective cross-metathesis and cross-metathesis in water, and the successful marriage of metathesis and solid-phase organic synthesis has further widened the scope of this versatile reaction.     

Cross-metathesis of vinyl aromatic heterocycles with 1-octene in the presence of a Schrock catalyst

Metathesis of 2-vinyl aromatic heterocycles such as furan, thiophene, pyrrole and pyridine in the presence of a molybdenum-based Schrock catalyst has been investigated from a synthetic point of view. The self-metathesis of 2-vinyl aromatic heterocycles was not successful. However, in cross-metathesis of thiophene, furan and styrene with 1-octene, the cross-metathesis product, heterodimer, was readily obtained selectively, together with only small amounts of the two corresponding self-metathesis products. The origin of the surprisingly high selectivity of heterodimer formation was elucidated through metallacyclobutane intermediate mechanism, observations of carbenes by in situ ¹H NMR, and reaction products.     

Solid-phase olefin cross-metathesis promoted by a linker

Olefin cross-metathesis couples two alkenes to form complex molecules and has been widely used in solution-phase organic synthesis. However, this powerful method has rarely been used in solid-phase organic synthesis. Herein we report that olefin cross-metathesis is a synthetically viable method particularly when a traceless longer linker is inserted between solid support and reacting olefins.     

Allene cross-metathesis: synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted allenes

[reaction: see text] Grubbs catalyst, Cl2(Cy3P)2Ru=CHPh, was found to catalyze the cross-metathesis of monosubstituted allenes to 1,3-disubstituted allenes in varying yields.     

Application of olefin cross-metathesis to organometallics. Synthesis of unsaturated ferrocenyl alcohols and ketones

[reaction: see text] The application of olefin cross-metathesis to terminally unsaturated alpha-hydroxy- and alpha-ketoferrocenes is reported. Both substrates provided the terminally functionalized olefins in moderate to good yield. These examples represent the first cases of cross-metathesis of substrates containing an organometallic functional group.     

Synthesis of tri-substituted vinyl boronates via ruthenium-catalyzed olefin cross-metathesis

Tri-substituted vinyl pinacol boronates, which are key reactive intermediates in a variety of transformations, are synthesized using ruthenium-catalyzed olefin cross-metathesis of α-substituted vinyl boronates and various alkenes. Cross-metathesis of 2-isopropenyl pinacol boronate proceeds with moderate yield and high Z-selectivity when sterically unhindered cross partners are used. Cross-metathesis of vinyl boronates that possess α-substitution larger than a methyl group is also achieved. Yield and Z-selectivity are lower in these cases, and the success of a cross-metathesis reaction is highly dependent on the steric bulk surrounding the double bond of the α-substituted vinyl boronate.     

Cross-metathesis of vinyl aromatic heterocycles: comparison of Grubbs catalyst and Schrock catalyst

Metathesis of 2-vinyl aromatic heterocycles such as furan and thiophene has been investigated in the presence of a ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst from a synthetic standpoint. The self-metathesis of 2-vinyl aromatic heterocycles was not successful. However, the cross-metathesis of these aromatic heterocycles with 1-octene occurred efficiently, but the selectivity of cross-metathesis product was very low, below 50%. The origin of the low selectivity of heterodimer formation was elucidated through metallacyclobutane intermediate mechanism, observations of carbenes by in situ ¹H NMR, and the reaction products. The effect of oxygen on the reaction behavior was also examined. Furthermore, the data obtained on the Grubbs catalyst were compared with those on a molybdenum-based Schrock catalyst.     

Synthesis of porphyryl boronates with (un)saturated side-chains

Porphyrins with (un)saturated side-chains containing boron residues were developed as synthons for porphyrin functionalisation. Porphyrins with mono and bis-substituted unsaturated boronyl residues were prepared in good yields (52-66%) using a cross-metathesis approach in the presence of Grubbs I-generation catalysts. In all cases complete E-stereoselectivity (100%) was observed. Furthermore, formal cross-metathesis products with α,β-unsaturated chains smoothly underwent addition with bis(pinacolato)diboron [(Me₄C₂O₂)B-B(O₂C₂Me₄)] to yield the corresponding saturated boron compounds in 60-70% yields.     

Stability of the first-generation Grubbs metathesis catalyst in a continuous flow reactor

Ethylene pretreatment of the (PCy₃)₂Cl₂RuCHPh catalyst (1) prior to cross-metathesis of ethylene and cis-2-butene to form propylene in the continuous flow reactor produced a direct effect on catalyst deactivation. Similar cis-2-butene pretreatment of the same catalyst exhibited far less change in the catalyst activity. These results support the assumption that the ruthenium methylidene intermediate generated from ethylene and 1 is unstable and promotes catalyst loss while ruthenium alkylidenes, e.g. derived from 2-butene, exhibit significantly enhanced stability and sustained catalyst integrity. Continuous removal of products in the continuous flow reactor was important for separating the catalyst decay and the catalyst deactivation caused by a terminal olefin, in this case propylene.The amount of produced propylene during the 1 lifespan was determined in a series of tests using identical catalyst concentrations ([Ru] = 60 ppm) in pentadecane while varying the olefin pretreatment times from 0 to 420 min. The catalyst turnover numbers in the cross-metathesis experiments proved inversely proportional to the duration of ethylene treatment prior to the reaction. The activity of 1 pre-exposed to ethylene closely matched with the activity of the catalyst that decayed in the reaction mixture containing ethylene and cis-2-butene for the same period of time. A significant contribution of the Ru-methylidene decay to the activity losses in metathesis reactions was demonstrated directly in the cross-metathesis reaction environment. The catalyst proved to be less sensitive to cis-2-butene pretreatment and showed turnover numbers for subsequent cross-metathesis essentially similar to the reference cross-metathesis test.