Heptane-soluble ring-closing metathesis catalysts

Terminally vinyl-functionalized polyisobutylene (PIB) oligomers can be easily transformed into end-functionalized PIB-bound Ru metathesis catalysts. The nonpolar catalysts so prepared can be used as solutions in heptane and recycled by a gravity-based extraction after addition of a heptane-immiscible polar solvent. This paper describes the synthesis and the recycling of a PIB-supported second-generation Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst for Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis and ring-opening metathesis polymerizations.     

Enantioselective ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis

[reaction: see text] The first enantioselective ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts have been prepared, and high enantiomeric excesses (up to 90%) are observed in the desymmetrization of achiral trienes. A model consistent with the stereochemical outcome of the reactions is described and suggests side-on olefin binding and reorganization of the halide ligands.     

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.     

Synthesis of spirocyclic thiazolidinediones using ring-closing metathesis and one-pot sequential ring-closing/cross metathesis

A novel synthetic route to spirocyclic thiazolidinediones is reported by utilizing ring-closing metathesis (RCM). A selective cross metathesis (CM) of N-allyl azaspiro derivatives with different olefins has been demonstrated to prepare substituted azaspiro-[4.4]nonenediones. The X-ray crystal structure of a spirocyclic thiazolidinedione dimer is described, which has been prepared in two steps from thiazolidinedione using a one-pot sequential ring-closing and self metathesis. Cross metathesis proceeds smoothly with both electron rich and poor olefins. The symmetrical bis-thiazolidinedione spirocyclic system can be used as CM coupling partner with olefins. One-pot sequential RCM-CM has been developed for the synthesis of substituted spirocyclic compounds. The methodology allows a quick access to thia-azaspiro-[4.4]nonene and -[4.5]decene-dione ring systems from readily available starting materials which are not otherwise accessible.     

Solvents for ring-closing metathesis reactions

A study of the influence of eight diverse solvents on a Grubbs II-catalysed ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction reveals a complex dependence of the different reaction steps on the solvent and suggests acetic acid as a useful solvent for RCM reactions.     

Stereoselectivity of macrocyclic ring-closing olefin metathesis

[reaction: see text] Macrocyclic ring-closing olefin metathesis using ruthenium catalyst 3 was performed to produce a 14-membered lactone. The E/Z ratio of lactone was high regardless of the R group (auxiliary) or the initial alkene stereochemistry. A kinetic study demonstrates that the high E/Z ratio is due to secondary metathesis reactions that isomerize the product to the thermodynamic E/Z ratio.     

A ring-closing yne-carbonyl metathesis of ynamides

[reaction: see text] An acid-catalyzed ring-closing ynamide-carbonyl metathesis is described here. This hetero RCM methodology is applicable to the construction of carbocycles as well as heterocycles such as chromenes, quinolizidines, indolizidines, and pyrrolizidines.     

Synthesis of cyclitols via ring-closing metathesis

A convenient synthesis of enantiomerically pure and differentially protected l-chiro- and myo-inositols as well as conduritols B and F from 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-d-xylopyranose via ring-closing metathesis is reported. The facile synthesis of conduritol B constitutes a short formal synthesis of (−)-cyclophellitol.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by ring-closing metathesis

A strategy for the synthesis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by the ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) of pendant olefins on a phenylene backbone has been developed. RCM of 2,4',6',2' '-tetravinyl-[1,1';3',1' ']terphenyl and 2,2',5',2' '-tetravinyl-[1,1';4',1']terphenyl affords in high yield the isomeric [a,j] and [a,h] dibenzanthracenes, respectively. In contrast with other intramolecular annulation methods, such as Friedel-Crafts acylations, this reaction is completely regioselective. Since RCM is reversible and PAHs are often thermodynamic sinks, this strategy is an effective and general method for the preparation of PAHs. Density functional theory calculations support these results. Carbon disulfide is a suitable solvent for these reactions.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening and ring-closing enyne metathesis

[reaction: see text]. When a CH2Cl2 solution of an enyne containing the cycloalkene moiety was stirred in the presence of ruthenium-carbene complex (10 mol %) at room temperature under ethylene gas (1 atm), ring-opening and ring-closing metathesis occurred to afford cyclized triene. The reaction was carried out under argon gas, and no cyclized product was obtained. Enynes with a terminal alkyne gave good results.     

Enyne ring-closing metathesis on heteroaromatic cations

Cationic heteroaromatic enynes have been employed as substrates in enyne ring-closing metathesis, under an atmosphere of ethylene and using the Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst, for the first time; the reaction affords new 1-vinyl- and 2-vinyl-substituted 3,4-dihydroquinolizinium salts, useful precursors for biologically relevant cations based on the quinolinizium system.     

A ring-closing metathesis strategy to phosphonosugars

[reaction: see text]. Syntheses of cyclic phosphonate (phostone) analogues of carbohydrates containing a phosphorus atom at the anomeric position are described. The ring-closing metathesis reaction of mixed allylic phenyl esters of allylphosphonic acid 2 and 22 generates the six-membered allylic phosphonates 3 and 23 in excellent yields. Introduction of the polyhydroxy functionality in these cyclic phosphonates provides facile entry into an array of phostone sugar analogues.     

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.     

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 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.     

Formation of macrocycles via ring-closing olefin metathesis

The enhanced metathesis activity of 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazole-2-ylidene ruthenium carbene catalyst 3 significantly increases the feasibility of synthesizing macrocyclic compounds. Catalyst 3 exhibits sufficient activity in RCM to dimerize alpha,beta-unsaturated ester substrates and afford the corresponding head-to-tail (E,E)-dimeric (and trimeric) macrocycles. The dimerization appears to be under thermodynamic control with the product mixture dependent not only on the electronic and steric nature of the substrate but also on concentration.     

Tandem cyclopropanation/ring-closing metathesis of dienynes

Certain dienynes give cyclorearrangement by tandem cyclopropanation/ring-closing alkene metathesis, triggered by either a ruthenium carbene or noncarbene ruthenium(II) precatalyst. The process represents a variation of enyne metathesis where presumed cyclopropyl carbene intermediates undergo a consecutive ring-closing metathesis. A mechanistic proposal is offered, and sequential use of catalysts provided a tandem ring-closing enyne/alkene metathesis product.     

Synthesis of cyclic peptides by ring-closing metathesis

The synthesis of a series of "amide to amide" cyclized peptides by ring-closing metathesis (RCM) as well as a convenient synthesis for the linear precursors is described. In addition, the influence of the length of the alkene substituents and the influence of the peptide sequence is investigated, leading to a set of general rules to obtain "amide to amide" cyclized peptides by RCM.