Alkene metathesis: the search for better catalysts

Alkene metathesis catalyst development has made significant progress over recent years. Research in metathesis catalyst design has endeavoured to tackle three key issues: those of (i) catalyst efficiency and activity, (ii) substrate scope and selectivity--particularly stereoselective metathesis reactions--and (iii) the minimization of metal impurities and catalyst recycling. This article describes a brief history of metathesis catalyst development, followed by a survey of more recent research, with a particular emphasis on ruthenium catalysts.     

Highly active water-soluble olefin metathesis catalyst

A novel water-soluble ruthenium olefin metathesis catalyst supported by a poly(ethylene glycol) conjugated saturated 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene ligand is reported. The catalyst displays improved activity in ring-opening metathesis polymerization, ring-closing metathesis, and cross-metathesis reactions in aqueous media.     

Tandem isomerisation-metathesis catalytic processes of linear olefins in ionic liquid biphasic system

trans-3-Hexene is converted to heavier linear olefins by a tandem Ru-catalysed biphasic isomerisation/metathesis sequence. The difference in olefin metathesis and isomerisation rates is modulated by keeping the ionophilic metathesis catalyst in an ionic phase whilst the isomerisation catalyst is in another organic non-polar phase.     

Metathesis of a novel dienediyne system: A unique example involving the usage of in situ generated ethylene as cross-enyne metathesis partner

A unique example of sequential ring-closing metathesis and cross-enyne metathesis is reported. Here, the in situ generated ethylene by product from ring-closing metathesis is trapped by alkyne moiety. No metathesis product formation was observed with more reactive second generation catalyst in the absence of ethylene. Differential chemoselectivity with the first and second generation Grubbs’ catalyst has been observed when the reaction was performed in presence of the external source of ethylene.     

A neutral, water-soluble olefin metathesis catalyst based on an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand

A water-soluble ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalyst supported by a poly(ethylene glycol) conjugated N-heterocyclic carbene ligand is reported. The catalyst displays greater activity in aqueous ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reactions than previously reported water-soluble metathesis catalysts.     

锌卟啉修饰的双核钌卡宾烯烃复分解催化剂的合成及催化性能检测

为了得到稳定性更好、活性更高的烯烃复分解催化剂,本文采用有机合成的方法,以钌卡宾烯烃复分解催化剂为主体,用锌卟啉进行修饰,得到锌卟啉修饰的Grubbs-Hoveyda型双核钌卡宾烯烃复分解反应催化剂,产物结构使用核磁共振方法进行表征。 用0.1%化学计量催化剂催化几种代表性底物闭环复分解(RCM)反应产率能达到95%,对于特定的交叉烯烃复分解反应(CM),延长反应时间也能得到93%的较高产率。 研究结果为Grubbs-Hoveyda催化剂的修饰提供了新方法和理论依据。     

Poly(fluoroalkyl acrylate)-bound ruthenium carbene complex: a fluorous and recyclable catalyst for ring-closing olefin metathesis

The synthesis of a fluorous olefin metathesis catalyst derived from the Grubbs second-generation ruthenium carbene complex is described. The air stable fluorous polymer-bound ruthenium carbene complex 1 shows high reactivity in effecting the ring-closing metathesis of a broad spectrum of diene and enyne substrates leading to the formation of di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted cyclic olefins in minimally fluorous solvent systems (PhCF3/CH2Cl2, 1:9-1:49 v/v). The catalyst can be readily separated from the reaction mixture by fluorous extraction with FC-72 and repeatedly reused. The practical advantage offered by the fluorous catalyst is demonstrated by its sequential use in up to five different metathesis reactions.     

A Hybrid Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization Catalyst Based on an Engineered Variant of the β‐Barrel Protein FhuA

A β‐barrel protein hybrid catalyst was prepared by covalently anchoring a Grubbs–Hoveyda type olefin metathesis catalyst at a single accessible cysteine amino acid in the barrel interior of a variant of β‐barrel transmembrane protein ferric hydroxamate uptake protein component A (FhuA). Activity of this hybrid catalyst type was demonstrated by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of a 7‐oxanorbornene derivative in aqueous solution.     

Intramolecular monomer-on-monomer (MoM) Mitsunobu cyclization for the synthesis of benzofused thiadiazepine-dioxides

The utilization of a monomer-on-monomer (MoM) intramolecular Mitsunobu cyclization reaction employing norbornenyl-tagged (Nb-tagged) reagents is reported for the synthesis of benzofused thiadiazepine-dioxides. Facile purification was achieved via ring-opening metathesis (ROM) polymerization initiated by one of three metathesis catalyst methods: (i) free metathesis catalyst, (ii) surface-initiated catalyst-armed silica, or (iii) surface-initiated catalyst-armed Co/C magnetic nanoparticles.     

Aminocarbonyl group containing Hoveyda-Grubbs-type complexes: synthesis and activity in olefin metathesis transformations

Three novel "boomerang" precatalysts bearing different aminocarbonyl functions are reported. Comparative kinetic studies show that this functional group allows for a control of the catalytic activity in metathesis transformations. The scope of the more active catalyst is investigated and shows a good tolerance to various substrates in ring-closing metathesis, enyne metathesis, and cross metathesis. ICP-MS analyses illustrate the good affinity of this catalyst for silica gel, as levels of Ru contamination lower than 6 ppm are detected in the final products.     

Electrochemically reduced tungsten‐based active species as catalysts for cross‐metathesis reactions: cross‐metathesis of non‐functionalized olefins

The electrochemical reduction of WCl₆ results in the formation of an active olefin (alkene) metathesis catalyst. The application of the WCl₆–e^?–Al–CH₂Cl₂ catalyst system to cross‐metathesis reactions of non‐functionalized acyclic olefins is reported. Undesirable reactions, such as double‐bond shift isomerization and subsequent metathesis, were not observed in these reactions. Cross‐metathesis of 7‐tetradecene with an equimolar amount of 4‐octene generated the desired cross‐product, 4‐undecene, in good yield. The reaction of 7‐tetradecene with 2‐octene, catalyzed by electrochemically reduced tungsten hexachloride, resulted in both self‐ and cross‐metathesis products. The cross‐metathesis products, 2‐nonene and 6‐tridecene, were formed in larger amounts than the self‐metathesis products of 2‐octene. The optimum catalyst/olefin ratio and reaction time were found to be 1 : 60 and 24 h, respectively. The cross‐metathesis of symmetrical olefins with α‐olefins was also studied under the predetermined conditions. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assisted tandem catalytic RCM-aromatization in the synthesis of pyrroles and furans

An assisted tandem catalytic transformation of diallyl amines and diallyl ethers into N-aryl pyrroles and furans, respectively, is described. The sequence relies on ring closing metathesis followed by dehydrogenation of the initially formed dihydropyrroles and dihydrofurans. Both steps are Ru-catalyzed, but the sequence requires only one precatalyst, because conversion of the metathesis catalyst into the dehydrogenation catalyst is achieved in situ, triggered by the oxidant tert-butyl hydroperoxide.     

DFT prediction and experimental observation of substrate-induced catalyst decomposition in ruthenium-catalyzed olefin metathesis

Ruthenacyclobutane decomposition, involving competitive beta-hydride transfer to Ru and reductive olefin elimination during ruthenium-catalyzed olefin metathesis, is predicted by density functional theory calculations and experimentally confirmed by propene and butene formation during degenerate Ru-methylidene-catalyzed metathesis of ethylene. The results provide new focus on the nature of ruthenium metathesis catalyst decomposition under catalytic conditions.     

A concise asymmetric route to the bridged bicyclic tropane alkaloid ferruginine using enyne ring-closing metathesis

[reaction: see text] Enyne metathesis has been used to prepare bridged azabicycles and applied in a short asymmetric synthesis of the tropane ferruginine. A Grubbs first generation catalyst proved to be superior to the second generation catalyst in the enyne metathesis reaction.     

Cross enyne metathesis of para-substituted styrenes: a kinetic study of enyne metathesis

[Reaction: see text] The intermolecular enyne metathesis between alkynes and styrene derivatives was developed to study electronic effects in enyne metathesis. A Hammett plot for the overall reaction, catalyst initiation and vinyl carbene turnover was determined with the second generation Grubbs ruthenium carbene catalyst.     

Reactions of strained hydrocarbons with alkene and alkyne metathesis catalysts

Here we describe the metathesis reactions of a strained eight-membered ring that contains both alkene and alkyne functionality. We find that the alkyne metathesis catalyst produces polymer through a ring-opening alkyne metathesis reaction that is driven by the strain release from the monomer. The strained monomer provides unusual reactivity with ruthenium-based alkene metathesis catalysts. We isolate a discrete trimeric species a Dewar benzene derivative that is locked in this form through an unsaturated cyclophane strap.     

New ROMP Synthesis of Ferrocenyl Dendronized Polymers

First‐ and second‐generation Percec‐type dendronized ferrocenyl norbornene macromonomers containing, respectively, three and nine ferrocenyl termini are synthesized and polymerized by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization using Grubbs' third‐generation olefin metathesis catalyst with several monomer/catalyst feed ratios between 10 and 50. The rate of polymerization is highly dependent on the generation of the dendronized macromonomers, but all these ring‐opening metathesis polymerization reactions are controlled, and near‐quantitative monomer conversions are achieved. The numbers of ferrocenyl groups obtained are in agreement with the theoretical ones according to the cyclic voltammetry studies as determined using the Bard–Anson method.     

Grubbs' catalyst in paraffin: an air-stable preparation for alkene metathesis

A homogeneous mixture of Grubbs' catalyst in paraffin wax was shown to catalyze three important types of metathesis reactions: ring-closing metathesis, alkene dimerization, and alkene cross-metathesis (e.g., 11 --> 13). This catalyst preparation demonstrated no loss in catalytic activity after 22 months of storage open to the air.     

The activity of covalently immobilized Grubbs–Hoveyda type catalyst is highly dependent on the nature of the support material

A Hoveyda-type catalyst for olefin metathesis was synthesized and covalently attached via an amide bond to four different solid supports. One of these supports was a home-made hybrid silica support, where an ultra-thin copolymer of poly(styrene) and poly(acrylamide) was grafted on. The three other supports were commercially available, namely HypoGel 400, PEGA and Trisoperl. It was demonstrated that the catalysts were active in ring closing metathesis (RCM) reactions as well as in cross metathesis (CM) and ring opening metathesis (ROM) reactions, but the activity of the catalyst was highly dependent on the nature of the support.