Synthesis of biaryl compounds using tandem ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis

Tandem ring-closing enyne metathesis (RCEM)/ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) of tetraenynes with Grubbs second-generation catalyst, followed by elimination, was found to be a new and efficient synthetic approach to biaryl compounds. A preliminary asymmetric version of this approach, which used homochiral Ru-alkylidene catalysts, is also presented.     

Kinetically controlled ring-closing metathesis: synthesis of a potential scaffold for 12-membered salicylic macrolides

For the synthesis of a 12-membered salicylic macrolide scaffold, ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of a omega-diene compound was planned. The stereochemical outcome of the RCM reaction changed depending on the type of Ru catalyst that was used; a "first-generation" Grubbs catalyst produced exclusively the E isomer and "second-generation" catalysts provided a mixture of the E and Z isomers under kinetic control (not thermodynamic control). Considerations for the E/Z selectivity are described.     

N,N'-dialkyl- and N-alkyl-N-mesityl-substituted N-heterocyclic carbenes as ligands in Grubbs catalysts

Various symmetrically and asymmetrically substituted N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands bearing aliphatic nitrogen-containing side groups have been synthesised. In our attempts to isolate the corresponding second-generation Grubbs catalysts, we were unsuccessful when using the symmetrical aliphatic NHC ligands. For the asymmetrical ligands bearing an aliphatic moiety on one side and an aromatic mesityl group on the other side, substitution of a phosphine ligand was achieved. The performance of a so-formed series of Ru-based metathesis initiators has been evaluated for the ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) of cycloocta-1,5-diene and the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of diethyl diallylmalonate.     

Synthesis of alkyl-substituted six-membered lactones through ring-closing metathesis of homoallyl acrylates. An easy route to pyran-2-ones, constituents of tobacco flavor

The ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions of homoallylic acrylates bearing alkyl substituents on various positions of their skeleton afford the corresponding pentenolides in the presence of carbene ruthenium catalysts. For R3 = R4 = H, or R3 = Me, R4 = H, the reactions are catalyzed by complex [RuCl2(PCy3)2(=CHPh)], while a second-generation Grubbs catalyst is required when R3 = H and R4 = Me, R3 = R4 = Me, or R3 = i-Pr and R4 = H. Alkyl substitution at the homoallylic carbon (R1, R2) increases the yield of the reaction when both the acrylic and/or homoallylic double bonds are methyl-substituted. The interaction of the catalyst with the substrate in the initiation stage involves the homoallylic double bond rather than the acrylic moiety, and the resulting alkylidene species from the first-generation Grubbs catalyst can be observed by 1H and 31P NMR. The racemic tobacco constituents 4-isopropyl-5,6-dihydropyran-2-one and 4-isopropyltetrahydropyran-2-one are prepared via a short reaction sequence, involving the RCM reaction as the key transformation.     

Intramolecular metathesis versus Kharasch reactions using the Grubbs metathesis catalyst: towards catalyst economy

The first generation Grubbs catalyst can promote either ring closing metathesis (RCM) or atom transfer radical cyclisation reactions (ATRC) depending upon the reaction conditions employed.     

Microwave-assisted ring-closing metathesis revisited. On the question of the nonthermal microwave effect

The ring-closing metathesis reactions (RCM) of six standard diene substrates leading to five-, six-, or seven-membered carbo- or heterocycles were investigated under controlled microwave irradiation. RCM protocols were performed with standard Grubbs type II and a cationic ruthenium allenylidene catalyst in neat and ionic liquid-doped methylene chloride under sealed vessel conditions. Very rapid conversions (15 s) were achieved utilizing 0.5 mol % Grubbs II catalyst under microwave conditions. Careful comparison studies indicate that the observed rate enhancements are not the result of a nonthermal microwave effect.     

Carbohydrate-based oxepines: ring expanded glycals for the synthesis of septanose saccharides

A ring-closing metathesis (RCM) approach to a family of carbohydrate-based oxepines is described. A variety of readily accessible, protected monosaccharide derived dienes were used to demonstrate the utility of the synthetic sequence and to investigate how factors such as rigidification and deoxygenation mediate RCM using the Grubbs or Schrock catalyst. The seven-membered cyclic enol ethers are ring expanded glycals to be used in the synthesis of septanose carbohydrates.     

The first examples of ring-closing olefin metathesis of vinyl chlorides

[reaction: see text] Ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of olefinic vinyl chlorides can be effected by using the second generation Grubbs catalyst (10 mol %, PhH, 65 degrees C) to produce a variety of carbocyclic and heterocyclic five-, six-, and seven-membered rings in excellent yields.     

Ring-closing olefin metathesis of 2,2'-divinylbiphenyls: a novel and general approach to phenanthrenes

[reaction: see text] The ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) of 2,2'-divinylbiphenyls, using a second-generation RCM ruthenium-based catalyst, leads to differently substituted phenanthrenes in quantitative yield under very mild reaction conditions, independent of both nature and position of the groups present on the biphenyl moiety.     

Acid-mediated activation of modified ring-closing metathesis catalysts

To improve the reactivity of Grubbs catalyst, novel ligands were designed and synthesized which possess nitrogen-containing heterocycles such as imidazole and pyridine. The modified catalysts were treated with a range of acids and the acid salt forms were used as catalysts for ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions. As a result, reactions employing the acid-modified catalysts showed considerable reactivity enhancement in RCM.     

Facile synthesis of substituted 2,3,4,7-tetrahydro-1H-azepines via ring-closing metathesis

A highly efficient synthesis based on inexpensive and readily available starting material towards the pharmacologically interesting class of substituted 2,3,4,7-tetrahydro-1H-azepines via a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) approach employing Grubbs catalysts 1 and 2 is described. The influence of the substituents R¹ and R² on the outcome of the RCM reaction is discussed. The seemingly first example of an RCM approach towards seven-membered azacycles bearing a substituent at the alkene moiety utilizing Grubbs catalyst 1 is presented.     

Ligand Substitution of RuII–Alkylidenes to Ru(bpy)32+: Sequential Olefin Metathesis/Photoredox Catalysis

Ruthenium(II) alkylidene complexes such as the Grubbs’ 1st and 2nd generation catalysts undergo a ligand substitution with 2,2′-bipyridine, which readily leads to the common photoredox catalyst Ru(bpy)₃²⁺. The application of this catalyst transformation in sequential olefin metathesis/photoredox catalysis is demonstrated by way of ring-closing metathesis (RCM)/photoredox ATRA reactions.     

Synthesis of (6,6′)-C-Linked Pseudodisaccharides

A series of (6,6′)-C-linked pseudodisaccharides has been prepared using a general synthetic strategy of olefin metathesis in the presence of Grubbs second-generation catalyst. Yields were excellent in every case.     

Activity and stereoselectivity of Ru-based catalyst bearing a fluorinated imidazolinium ligand

Grubbs II generation catalyst (3), bearing a fluorinated imidazolinium ligand, was investigated in cross metathesis (CM), ring closing metathesis (RCM) and ring opening polymerization metathesis (ROMP) for a variety of substrates. Kinetic studies showed reduced stability of the catalyst in methylene chloride following the first 15 minutes of reaction preventing a higher efficiency despite the very high activity. Beneficial solvent effects on the catalyst stability were observed by performing RCM in C₆F₆.      

Ethylene-promoted versus ethylene-free enyne metathesis

The role of ethylene in promoting metathesis of acetylenic enynes is probed within the context of ring-closing enyne metathesis, using first- and second-generation Grubbs catalysts. Under inert atmosphere, rapid catalyst deactivation is observed by calibrated GC-FID analysis for substrates with minimal propargylic bulk. MALDI-TOF mass spectra reveal a Ru(enyne)(2) derivative that exhibits very low reactivity toward both enyne and ethylene. Under ethylene, formation of this species is suppressed. Enynes with bulky propargylic groups are not susceptible to this catalyst deactivation pathway, even under N(2) atmosphere.     

New efficient ruthenium metathesis catalyst containing chromenyl ligand

A synthesis of new Hoveyda-Grubbs-type catalyst with chromenyl ligand was described herein. The new catalyst was tested in model RCM and CM reactions. The catalyst proved to be quite efficient. It showed activity comparable or superior to that of commercially available Grubbs second-generation complexes.     

Asymmetric synthesis of C-aliphatic homoallylic amines and biologically important cyclohexenylamine analogues

An efficient method for the asymmetric synthesis of C-aliphatic homoallylic amines with up to 94% yield and 80% de is reported. Ring-closing metathesis of several chiral homoallylic amines using the second-generation Grubbs catalyst provided easy access to a wide variety of cyclohexenylamines.     

Highly chemo- and stereoselective intermolecular coupling of diazoacetates to give cis-olefins by using Grubbs second-generation catalyst

Highly stereoselective formation of cis-2-ene-1,4-diesters by homo- and heterocoupling of alpha-diazoacetates in the presence of Grubbs second-generation catalyst is demonstrated. The dual reactivity of the catalyst in alkene metathesis and diazocoupling has been exploited in the synthesis of 12-26-membered macrocyclic dienyl dilactones by one-pot carbene dimerisation/ring-closing metathesis.     

Ring-opening/ring-closing metathesis (RORCM) reactions of 7-Azanorbornene derivatives. An entry into perhydroindolines

[reaction: see text]. 7-Azanorbornenes undergo ring-opening/ring-closing metathesis upon treatment with the second-generation Grubbs catalyst to give hexahydroindoline derivatives.     

A stereoselective enyne cross metathesis

[reaction: see text] Intermolecular enyne metathesis reaction of alkynes with olefins catalyzed by second-generation Grubbs catalyst (1) proceeded stereoselectively under ethylene atmosphere to produce 1,3-disubstituted butadienes with E stereochemistry.