Ring-closing metathesis for the synthesis of 2H- and 4H-chromenes

Six 4H-chromenes were synthesized from substituted phenols using vinylstannylation and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) as key steps. In addition, a different approach involving amongst other steps, an aryl allyl isomerization and RCM afforded a set of seven 2H-chromenes from phenolic precursors.     

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.     

Sequential isomerization and ring-closing metathesis: masked styryl and vinyloxyaryl groups for the synthesis of benzo-fused heterocycles

The use of an aryl allyl ether and an arylallyl group as masked vinyl ether and 1-propenylphenyl groups for ring-closing metathesis (RCM) leading to the synthesis of benzo-fused heterocycles was demonstrated by using a ruthenium-mediated isomerization followed by a ruthenium-mediated RCM reaction. This resulted in the syntheses of a variety of products including two substituted benzo[1,4]dioxins, a naphtho[2,3-b][1,4]dioxin, a 2H-chromene and a benzo[b]furan.     

Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling and ring-closing metathesis: a strategic combination to the synthesis of indeno[1,2-c]isoquinolin-5,11-diones

A variety of diversely substituted isoindeno[1,2-c]isoquinolin-5,11-diones has been readily assembled through a sequence involving a Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction with enol phosphates combined with a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction. Intramolecular carbocationic annulation reaction and ultimate oxidation of a latent hydroxyl functionality completed the synthesis of the target titled compounds.     

Development of novel reactions using ruthenium carbene catalyst and its application to novel methods for preparing nitrogen-containing heterocycles

The reaction of N-allyl-ortho-vinylaniline with ruthenium carbene catalyst at 50 °C gives substituted 1,2-dihydroquinoline through ring-closing metathesis (RCM), which is easily converted to the corresponding quinoline after deprotection. In sharp contrast, when vinyloxytrimethylsilane is added to this reaction mixture, 1,2-dihydroquinoline is not formed and selective isomerization of N-allyl-ortho-vinylaniline is observed at 50 °C to give corresponding enamide, which is successfully converted to indole derivative by RCM. The same catalyst system provide indoline derivative at 160 °C by cycloisomerization. Based on a detailed mechanistic study, it becomes clear that a ruthenium carbene catalyst, which is highly effective for RCM, reacts with an electron-rich terminal olefin selectively, and another ruthenium species, which effectively catalyzes the isomerization of terminal olefin and cycloisomerization of alpha, omega-diene, is generated.     

Construction of carbocyclic ring of indoles using ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing olefin metathesis

The selective synthesis of substituted indoles was achieved by the ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM)/elimination sequence or the RCM/tautomerization sequence of functionalized pyrrole precursors. The RCM/elimination sequence was also applied to double ring closure to yield a substituted carbazole.     

Synthesis of substituted benzenes and phenols by ring-closing olefin metathesis

New synthetic approaches to substituted aromatic compounds are reported. Ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM)/dehydration and RCM/tautomerization are the key processes in the synthesis of substituted benzenes 3 and phenols 6, respectively. Readily accessible 1,5,7-trien-4-ols 7, which are the precursors of benzenes, were prepared from beta-halo-alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes 11 or beta-halo-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters 19 by utilizing reliable transformations in which cross-coupling with vinylic metal reagents 12 and allylation with allylic metal reagents 13 were employed as carbon-carbon bond forming reactions. RCM of 7, followed by dehydration, afforded a wide variety of substituted benzenes 3. In addition, RCM of 1,5,7-trien-4-ones 9, which were prepared by oxidation of 7, furnished various substituted phenols 6 by automatic tautomerization.     

Ring-closing metathesis for the synthesis of heteroaromatics: evaluating routes to pyridines and pyridazines

Ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) has been applied to the efficient synthesis of densely and diversely substituted pyridine and pyridazine frameworks. Routes to suitable metathesis precursors have been investigated and the scope of the metathesis step has been probed. The metathesis products function as precursors to the target heteroaromatic structures via elimination of a suitable leaving group, which also facilitates earlier steps by serving as a protecting group at nitrogen. Further functionalisation of the metathesis products is possible both prior to and after aromatisation. The net result is a powerful strategy for the de novo synthesis of highly substituted heteroaromatic scaffolds.     

Synthesis of substituted cyclohexenyl-based beta-amino acids by ring-closing metathesis

[structure: see text] A versatile ring-closing metathesis (RCM) approach has been developed for the preparation of cis and trans cyclohexenyl-based beta-amino acids that are either unsubstituted (3) or substituted (10 and 12) at the alpha-position.     

Synthesis of the trisoxazole macrolactone of mycalolides via template-directed E-selective ring-closing metathesis

The trisoxazole macrolactone structure of marine macrolides, mycalolides A and B, was stereoselectively constructed by template-directed ring-closing metathesis (RCM) using Zn²⁺ coordination. 1D and 2D NMR analysis indicated that Zn²⁺ coordinates to the β-hydroxy ester and the two terminal oxazole N-atoms in the RCM precursor, and this coordination might restrict its transition state conformer to predominantly give the E-macrocycle.     

A stereoselective synthesis of a spiro-bridged bis(α-amino acid) derivative based on Ru(II)-catalysed RCM reactions

Methodology for a stereoselective synthesis of a member of a novel family of spiro-bridged bis(α-amino acid) derivatives is described. The key step in the construction is a spirane annulation reaction effected by a Ru(II)-catalysed ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction of an appropriately substituted tetraene. The latter became available after stereocontrolled allylations of 3,3-bis[2-((2S,5R)-5-isopropyl-3,6-dimethoxy-2,5-dihydropyrazin-2-yl)ethyl]-1,4-pentadiene, which was prepared in several reaction steps from (2R)-2,5-dihydro-2-isopropyl-3,6-dimethoxypyrazine as a chiral starting material.     

Synthesis of novel, simplified, C-7 substituted eleutheside analogues with potent microtubule-stabilizing activity

The synthesis of a number of novel, simplified, C-7 substituted eleutheside analogues with potent tubulin-assembling and microtubule-stabilizing properties is described, using ring closing metathesis as the key-step for obtaining the 6-10 fused bicyclic ring system. The RCM precursors were synthesized starting from aldehyde 3 [prepared in six steps on a multigram scale from R-(−)-carvone in 30% overall yield] via multiple stereoselective Hafner-Duthaler allyltitanations and/or Brown allylborations. ‘Second generation’ RCM-catalyst 15 gave the desired ring closed ten-membered carbocycles as single Z stereoisomers in good yields. The RCM stereochemical course (100% Z) is likely to reflect thermodynamic control. Molecular mechanics and semi-empirical calculations also show that the Z stereoisomers of these ten-membered carbocycles are consistently more stable than the E. The crucial role of the homoallylic and allylic substituents and of their protecting groups for the efficiency of the RCM reactions is discussed. In particular, we have found that p-methoxyphenyl (PMP) protected allylic alcohols, the products of a stereoselective oxyallylation, are compatible with the RCM reaction and give better yields than the corresponding free allylic alcohols. One of the simplified analogues of the natural product (44, lacking inter alia the C-4/C-7 ether bridge) retains potent microtubule-stabilizing activity. However, the cytotoxicity tests did not parallel the potent tubulin-assembling and microtubule-stabilizing properties: limited cytotoxicity was observed against three common tumor cell lines (human ovarian carcinoma, human colon carcinoma and human leukemia cell lines, IC₅₀ in the μM range), approximately two orders of magnitude less than paclitaxel (IC₅₀ in the nM range). The mechanism of cell cycle arrest induced by compound 44 is similar to that obtained with paclitaxel.     

New Efficient RCM-Mediated Synthesis of Pyrrolidine Derivatives

Fast and effective ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) of diallyamine derivatives of coumarin, quinolone, pyridine, and substituted benzene, using first-generation RCM ruthenium-based catalyst, leads to corresponding pyrrolidine derivatives in 70–95% yields under very mild conditions.     

Synthesis of Substituted Indenes from Isovanillin via Claisen Rearrangement and Ring‐Closing Metathesis

A new synthesis of substituted indenes was studied. Based on Claisen rearrangement, Wittig reaction and ring‐closing metathesis (RCM), a series of substituted indenes was synthesized from isovanillin in good yields.     

Tandem aza-Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis reactions: the stereoselective synthesis of functionalised carbocyclic amides

A one-pot, tandem process has been developed for the efficient synthesis of functionalised carbocyclic amides. A substituted cyclopentenyl trichloroacetamide was synthesised using a tandem thermal aza-Claisen rearrangement and RCM process, while an analogous cyclohexenyl trichloroacetamide was generated with high diastereoselectivity using a tandem MOM-ether directed metal-catalysed aza-Claisen rearrangement and RCM process.     

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.     

Syntheses of Substituted Naphthalenes and Naphthols

Syntheses of substituted naphthalenes and naphthols are described. Based on Claisen rearrangement, ring‐closing metathesis (RCM), and related reactions, isovanillin was successfully transformed into a series of substituted naphthalenes and naphthols with good overall yields.     

General Route for the Preparation of Diverse 17-Membered Macrocycles Based on RCM and Examination of the E/Z Selectivity

A convergent, general synthetic route to 17-membered macrocycles was developed to support biological evaluation and structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies during phenotypic screening for immunology targets. A series of amide coupling reactions led to a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) precursor that was cyclized using Grubbs' catalysts. It was found that the reaction formed the macrocyclic products in a 3:1 ratio of E/Z isomers. Moreover, it was shown that a number of similarly substituted RCM precursors undergo cyclization to produce the geometric E/Z isomers in roughly the same 3:1 ratio. The remarkable independence of the E/Z outcome from the substitution pattern of the RCM precursor makes this synthetic approach generally applicable. Separation of the E/Z isomers was achieved by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography and allowed biological profiling of the geometric isomers. Reactive groups in the macrocycle were utilized for late-stage modifications in the fashion of diversity-orientated synthesis (DOS), yielding analogs for SAR studies.     

Isomerization and ring-closing metathesis for the synthesis of 6-, 7- and 8-membered benzo- and pyrido-fused N,N-, N,O- and N,S-heterocycles

An isomerization-ring-closing metathesis (RCM) strategy afforded N-substituted 4H-1,4-benzoxazines from the protected N-allyl-2-(allyloxy)anilines. In addition, RCM was used to synthesize the N-substituted, 8-membered benzo-fused heterocycles from the respective diallyl compounds: 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1,6-benzodiazocine, 5,6-dihydro-2H-1,6-benzoxazocine, 5,6,9,10-tetrahydropyrido[2,3-b][1,4]diazocine and 5,6-dihydro-2H-1,6-benzothiazocine 1,1-dioxide. The isomerization-RCM approach also afforded the 7-membered ring system, 2,5-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepine 1,1-dioxide, from the protected N-allyl-2-(allylsulfonyl)aniline. Furthermore, the structure of 1,6-bis[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1,6-benzodiazocine was confirmed by a single crystal X-ray determination.     

Synthetic approach to cis and trans-decalins via Diels—Alder reaction and ring-closing metathesis as key steps: further extension to dioxapropellane derivative by ring-closing metathesis

9,10-Substituted cis and trans-decalins were synthesized by a simple route using the Diels-Alder reaction and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) as key steps. Later, the cis-decalin system has been extended to 3,8-dioxa[8.4.4]propellane derivative by RCM sequence as a key step.