One-pot enyne metathesis/Diels-Alder reaction for the construction of highly functionalized novel polycyclic aza-compounds

Various tricyclic dienes were synthesized via enyne metathesis using the first generation Grubbs catalyst. The enyne metathesis proceeded smoothly in refluxing CH₂Cl₂ with a low catalyst loading (3.0 mol %), giving good yields (72-89%) of the tricyclic products 6 and 16. The resulting 1,3-dienes are suitable precursors of polycyclic structures via a Diels-Alder process. One-pot RCM/Diels-Alder reactions of the enyne products with dienophiles proceeded smoothly to afford polycyclic compounds as a single cycloadduct. The structures of the Diels-Alder adducts were determined by ¹H NMR spectra and X-ray analysis. The cycloadducts were formed via the approach of the dienophiles towards the diene in endo mode.     

Synthesis of a cryptand with tetrahedral connectivity using multiple ring-closing olefin metathesis

By connecting six terminal olefins sequentially in one molecule under metathesis conditions, three macrocycles were formed efficiently in one pot yielding a novel cryptand with tetrahedral connectivity.     

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.     

Efficient microwave-assisted formation of functionalized 2,5-dihydropyrroles using ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis

A rapid method for the formation of functionalized 2,5-dihydropyrroles using ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis under microwave irradiation is presented. The diene substrates were efficiently prepared from aza-Baylis-Hillman adducts.     

Synthesis of diversely functionalized indolizidinones and related bicyclic lactams using intramolecular Grubbs olefin metathesis and Dieckmann condensation

Bicyclic 1-aza-2-oxo ring systems with versatile functionality were synthesized from the Grubbs olefin metathesis of appropriate olefinic precursors, starting with l-pyroglutamic acid. The carbocyclization products were further functionalized utilizing the double bond or by enolate chemistry of the corresponding beta,gamma-unsaturated bicyclic lactam. In an alternative strategy, indolizidinones were synthesized by application of an intramolecular Dieckmann cyclization. A constrained peptidomimetic thrombin inhibitor was prepared from one of the bicyclic indolizidinones.     

Synthesis of the floresolide B hydroquinone lactone core using ring-closing metathesis

The hydroquinone lactone core of the floresolides was synthesized through a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) approach. Optimal RCM efficiency was obtained at higher reaction concentration. An unexpected Lewis acid-promoted rearrangement of the hydroquinone and other observations relevant to on-going total synthesis efforts are discussed.     

A double ring-closing olefin metathesis approach to [3]catenanes

A [3]catenane with peripheral olefinic macrocycles was conveniently synthesized via a double ring-closing olefin metathesis. Highlights of this work include the synthesis of a 65-membered macrocycle featuring two phenanthroline ligands, a Cu(I)-templated synthesis of a [3]pseudorotaxane, and the key double ring-closing olefin metathesis to afford the desired [3]catenane in 71% yield.     

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.     

Synthesis of cyclic dienamide using ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis of ene-ynamide

Ring-closing metathesis of ene-ynamide, which has alkene and ynamide moieties in a molecule, using a second-generation ruthenium carbene complex produced nitrogen-containing heterocycles, which have a dienamide moiety, in high yields. Diels-Alder reaction of the cyclized product with dienophile proceeded smoothly to give an indole or quinoline derivative in high yield.     

Synthesis of beta-bisabolol by ring-closing olefin metathesis reaction

A ring-closing olefin metathesis is the key step in the synthesis of the beta-bisabolols.     

Formal synthesis of valienamine using ring-closing metathesis

(1R,2S,3S,4R)-2,3,4-Tri-O-benzyl-5-(benzyloxymethyl)-cyclohex-5-ene-1,2,3,4-tetrol, a precursor of the α-glucosidase inhibitor, valienamine, was synthesised in eight steps from tetrabenzyl glucose. The key steps were the selective protection of an open-chain diol, and the formation of the cyclohexene ring by ring-closing metathesis with the trisubstituted olefin of valienamine correctly in place.     

Synthesis of substituted phenols by using the ring-closing metathesis/isoaromatization approach

Ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) of 4-methylene-1,7-octadien-3-ones 2, followed by isomerization of the carbon--carbon double bond of 6-methylene-2-cyclohexenones 3 from exo to endo, produced various phenols 4. As an application of the method, the RCM/Mizoroki-Heck reaction of 2 was proven to be also effective for the synthesis of phenols having an additional substituent at ortho-benzylic position.     

Synthesis of vinyl fluorides by ring-closing metathesis

The first ring-closing olefin metatheses of alkenyl α-fluoroacrylamides or acrylates incorporating a fluorinated double bond are reported. Several N-benzyl-N-alkenyl-α-fluoroacrylamides were cyclized in the presence of 2 mol % of Grubbs II catalyst at room temperature to form an unsaturated γ-lactam, and at 80 °C to form the corresponding δ-lactams bearing a fluoro vinyl moiety. At elevated temperature, cyclization of an N-methallyl 2-fluoroacrylamide to form a fluorinated, tetrasubstituted double bond was achieved. Similarly, 3-fluorocoumarin was prepared from (2-vinylphenyl)-α-fluoroacrylate.     

Synthesis of bridged azabicyclic structures via ring-closing olefin metathesis

A new strategy for the facile synthesis of azabicyclo[m.n.1]alkenes (m = 3-5; n = 3, 2) has been developed that involves the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction of cis-2,6-dialkenyl-N-acyl piperidine derivatives. The requisite 2,6-dialkenylpiperidines may be readily prepared in six steps starting from glutarimide (11) or three steps from 4-methoxypyridine (25). In one example that establishes the practical utility of the procedure, the functionalized 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane 32, which is a potential intermediate for the syntheses of various tropane alkaloids, was prepared. Additionally, a new route for the construction of the bridged tetrahydro-beta-carboline ring system 5 has been developed that features the ring-closing metathesis of the enyne 45 to construct the bridging ring in 46. This concise route to 46 also features a potentially general and useful procedure for the one-step preparation of a terminal alkyne from an ester function. Selective oxidation of the vinyl group in 46 afforded the unsaturated aldehyde 47, which may serve as a useful intermediate in syntheses of several Sarpagine alkaloids.     

Group-selective ring-closing enyne metathesis

The ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of dienynes represents a powerful methodology for the construction of mono- and bicyclic systems containing 1,3-diene functionality. Despite its synthetic potential, the utility of dienyne RCM is significantly reduced due to poor group selectivity. To circumvent this shortcoming, several strategies utilizing steric hindrance, electronic variation, relay metathesis and ring-closure kinetics have been implemented to exert control over the reaction pathways. This article highlights a variety of methods to achieve group-selective enyne RCM of dienynes.     

Cross‐metathesis functionalized exo‐olefin derivatives of lactide

Poly(lactic acid) is at the forefront of research into alternative replacements to fossil fuel derived polymers, yet preparation of derivatives of this key biodegradable polymer remain challenging. This article explores the use of two derivatives of lactide, each of which features an exocyclic olefin, and their pre‐polymerization modification by olefin cross‐metathesis. Methylenation of lactide with Tebbe's reagent generates a novel 5‐methylenated lactide monomer, (3S,6S)‐3,6‐dimethyl‐5‐methylene‐1,4‐dioxan‐2‐one, complementing the previously reported 3‐methylenated (6S)‐3‐methylene‐6‐methyl‐1,4‐dioxan‐2,5‐dione. While ring‐opening of each monomer is not productive, olefin cross‐metathesis can be used to functionalize each of the exocyclic olefins to produce a family of monomers. The ring‐opening polymerization of these new monomers, and their hydrogenated congeners, is facilitated by organo‐ and Lewis‐acid catalysts. Together, they offer a new strategy for derivatizing and altering the properties of poly(lactic acid). © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 741–748     

Synthesis of new boron analogues of cyclic carboxylic α-amino acids using ring-closing metathesis reactions

Ruthenium catalyzed ring-closing metathesis has been used as a key step for the synthesis of cyclic α-aminoboronic esters as, for example, boron-containing mimics of pipecolic, 2-azepanecarboxylic acid or baikiain.     

Synthesis of guaiane sesquiterpenoids by a ring-closing metathesis annulation sequence

A new route for the synthesis of guaiane and nor-guaiane sesquiterpenoids is described, using a ring-closing metathesis annulation reaction sequence on a chiral enantiopure cycloheptenone derived from (R)-(−)-carvone.     

Synthesis of new bicyclic lactam peptidomimetics by ring-closing metathesis reactions

An efficient and versatile synthetic method for the preparation of new fused bicyclic lactams 3a and 3b is described. The spirane cyclopentane nucleus was easily installed by diallylation of the pyroglutamate derivative 18 followed by ring-closing metathesis (RCM). A more practical and stereoselective method for the allylation of the α-methoxy carbamate 21, involving the use of InCl₃ as a Lewis acid, was developed. In the crucial coupling reaction of the diastereomeric mixture of cis- and trans-pirrolidine derivatives 5a and 5b with N-Cbz vinyl phenylalanine only the cis isomer was found to react. An RCM reaction on the dipeptides 25a and 25b followed by catalytic hydrogenation, gave the final epimeric bicyclic lactams 3a and 3b. The same synthetic sequence on the model compound 7, lacking the spiro cyclopentane nucleus, is also reported.