Ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] cocyclization of isocyanates, alkynes, and CO enables the rapid synthesis of polysubstituted maleimides

Intermolecular [2 + 2 + 1] cocyclization of isocyanates, alkynes, and CO (1 atm) proceeded smoothly in the presence of a catalytic amount of Ru3(CO)12 (3.3 mol %) in mesitylene at 130 degrees C for 3 approximately 42 h to give a variety of polysubstituted maleimides in excellent yields with high selectivity. The reaction may involve an azaruthenacyclopentenone intermediate derived from oxidative cyclization of an isocyanate and an alkyne on an active ruthenium species.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions of ynamides

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions between norbornene and ynamides were investigated. The ynamide moiety was found to be compatible with the ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition conditions, giving the corresponding cyclobutene cycloadducts in moderate to good yields (up to 97%). [reaction: see text]     

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions of 2-substituted norbornenes

The studies of remote substituent effects in controlling regio- and stereoselectivities in chemical reactions provide important information in understanding long-range stereoelectronic effects. The effect of remote substituents on ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions of 2-substituted norbornenes has been investigated. The cycloadditions occurred at room temperature in excellent yields, and regioselectivities of 1.2:1 to 7.5:1 were observed with various 2-substituted norbornenes.     

Nickel-catalyzed intermolecular [3 + 2 + 2] cocyclization of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate and alkynes

The [3 + 2 + 2] cocyclization of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate (1a) and terminal alkynes (2) proceeded smoothly in the presence of 10 mol % "Ni(PPh3)2", which was prepared in situ from Ni(cod)2 and PPh3. The high reactivity of 1a, which was induced by the introduction of an electron-withdrawing group, is very important for the progress of this reaction. The cycloheptadiene derivatives were synthesized in highly selective manner in good yields.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions of bicyclic alkenes and ynamides

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions between bicyclic alkenes and ynamides were investigated. The ynamide moiety was found to be compatible with the ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition conditions giving the corresponding cyclobutene cycloadducts in moderate to good yields (up to 97%). Diastereoselective cycloaddition utilizing chiral cyclic ynamides were also examined and a low to moderate level of asymmetric induction was observed.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions of alkynyl sulfides and alkynyl sulfones

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions of bicyclic alkenes with alkynyl sulfides and alkynyl sulfones were investigated. The sulfide and sulfone moieties were found to be compatible with the Ru-catalyzed cycloadditions, giving the corresponding cyclobutene cycloadducts in good yields. The sulfonyl-containing cycloadducts can be transformed into a variety of products that are difficult to obtain via direct cycloaddition.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed regioselective [2 + 2 + 2] cyclotrimerization of trifluoromethyl group substituted internal alkynes

It found that the Ru(3)(CO)(12) coordinated with 2-(diphenylphosphino)benzonitrile (2-DPPBN) to effectively catalyze the [2 + 2 + 2] cyclotrimerization of the trifluoromethyl group substituted internal alkynes in high yields with up to >98% regioselectivity. Isolation of a ruthenacyclopentadiene was successful and confirmed that the complex is a reaction intermediate.     

Octaalkyl tetracene-1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10-octacarboxylates: synthesis by twofold [2+2+2] cocyclization and crystallochromy

Tetracene octaesters, which were prepared by twofold [2+2+2] cocyclization, were isolated as red, orange, and orange-yellow solids for the methyl, ethyl, and propyl ester derivatives, respectively. X-Ray crystallographic analysis reveals that the difference in solid-state color arises owing to differences in molecular packing.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed homo Diels-Alder [2 + 2 + 2] cycloadditions of alkynyl phosphonates with bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene

Ruthenium-catalyzed homo Diels-Alder [2 + 2 + 2] cycloadditions between alkynyl phosphonates and bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene were studied. The observed reactivity was found to be dependent on the presence of the phosphonate moiety. The Ru-catalyzed cycloaddition was compatible with a variety of aromatic and aliphatic substituted alkynyl phosphonates, providing the corresponding phosphonate substituted deltacyclenes in low to good yields (up to 88%).     

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions between bicyclic alkenes and alkynyl halides

Ru-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions between norbornadiene and alkynyl halides were found to occur in moderate to good yields (32-89%). The presence of the halide moiety greatly enhances the reactivity of the alkyne component in the cycloaddition and can be transformed into a variety of products that are difficult or impossible to obtain via direct cycloaddition. [reaction: see text]     

Palladium-catalyzed cycloheptatriene formation by [3+2+2] cocyclization of 2-substituted allylic alcohols and alkynes

Cycloheptatrienes were obtained by the reaction of 2-substituted allylic alcohols with alkynes in the presence of catalytic amounts of palladium complexes and p-toluenesulfonic acid.     

Nickel-catalyzed intermolecular [3 + 2 + 2] cocyclization of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate and alkynes. Synthesis of seven-membered carbocycles

The [3 + 2 + 2] cocyclization of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate (1a) and various alkynes proceeded smoothly in the presence of Ni(cod)2-PPh3. The cycloheptadiene derivatives were synthesized in highly selective manners. The unique reactivity of 1a was essential for the progress of the reaction. The observed regioselectivity of the product formation and the mechanism of the reaction are discussed.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions between C1-substituted 7-oxanorbornadienes and alkynes

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions between C1-substituted 7-oxanorbornadienes and alkynes were investigated. Most of the cycloadditions occurred smoothly at 65 °C, giving the cyclobutene cycloadducts in moderate to good yields. The C1 substituent showed strong effect on the regioselectivity (up to 110:1) of the cycloadditions.     

Rh(I)-catalyzed mild intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition reactions of ester-tethered diene-yne compounds

The cationic rhodium(I) species derived from [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ and AgSbF₆ efficiently catalyze intramolecular [4+2] cycloadditions of ester-tethered 1,3-diene-8-yne derivatives such as 2-propynyl penta-2,4-dienoate and 2,4-pentadienyl propiolate derivatives in fluorinated alcohols.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions between substituted alkynes and norbornadiene: a theoretical study

Theoretical predictions have been made using density functional theory for the reaction paths of a series of substituted alkynes undergoing a ruthenium-catalyzed cycloaddition with norbornadiene. Substituents on the alkynes have been varied in order to probe electronic and steric effects and the role of an intramolecular hydrogen bond. Strong electron-withdrawing groups activate the alkyne and decrease the reaction barrier leading to an increased rate. Bulkier substituents are predicted to lead to higher barriers and slower rates. The hydroxyl group on the alkyne hydrogen bonds to the chlorine stabilizes the transition state and increases the reaction rate. Generally good agreement is found with the trends in recently reported experimental relative rates of reaction of substituted alkynes with norbornadiene.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions between 7-substituted norbornadienes and alkynes: an experimental and theoretical study

The ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions of 7-substituted norbornadienes with an alkyne have been investigated. The cycloadditions were found to be highly regio- and stereoselective, giving only the anti-exo cycloadducts as the single regio- and stereoisomers in good yields. The results on the relative rate of different 7-substituted norbornadienes in the Ru-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions with an alkyne indicated that the reactivity of the alkene component decreases dramatically as the alkene becomes more electron deficient. Ab initio computational studies on the ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions provided important information about the geometries and the arrangements of the four different groups on the Ru in the initial Ru-alkene-alkyne pi-complex, 14, and in the metallacyclopentene 15. Based on our computational studies, we also found that the first carbon-carbon bond formed in the [2 + 2] cycloaddition is between the C(5) of the alkene and the C(b) (the acetylenic carbon attached to the ester group) of the alkyne 8. Our computational studies on the potential energy profiles of the cycloadditions showed that the activation energy relative to the reactants for the oxidative addition step is in the range of 9.3-9.8 kcal/mol. The activation energy relative to the metallacyclopentene for the reductive elimination step is much higher than for the oxidative addition step (in the range of 25.9-27.6 kcal/mol).     

Intramolecular ketenimine-ketenimine [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] cycloadditions

Bis(ketenimines), in which the two heterocumulenic functions are placed in close proximity on a carbon skeleton to allow their mutual interaction, show a rich and not easily predictable chemistry. Intramolecular [2 + 2] or [4 + 2] cycloadditions are, respectively, observed when both ketenimine functions are supported on either ortho-benzylic or 2,2'-biphenylenic scaffolds. In addition, nitrogen-to-carbon [1,3] and [1,5] shifts of arylmethyl groups in N-arylmethyl-C,C-diphenyl ketenimines are also disclosed.