An imine addition/ring-closing metathesis approach to the spirocyclic core of halichlorine and pinnaic acid

[reaction: see text] An approach to the spirocyclic core of halichlorine and pinnaic acid has been designed around an imine allylation/ring-closing metathesis sequence. This sequence has been used to generate several azabicylo[n.5] model systems. A newly reported metathesis catalyst was show to be highly effective for cyclization of these systems.     

Highly efficient ruthenium catalysts for the formation of tetrasubstituted olefins via ring-closing metathesis

[reaction: see text] A series of ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have been prepared in which the N-aryl groups have been changed from mesityl to mono-ortho-substituted phenyl (e.g., tolyl). These new catalysts offer an exceptional increase in activity for the formation of tetrasubstituted olefins via ring-closing metathesis (RCM), while maintaining high levels of activity in ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions that generate di- and trisubstituted olefins.     

Combining α-amidoalkylation reactions of N-acyliminium ions with ring-closing metathesis: access to versatile novel isoindolones spirocyclic compounds

A novel approach to diversely spirocyclic isoindoles has been developed by using N-acyliminium/ring-closing metathesis strategy. Spirocyclization precursors, diolefinic, and enyne spiro-fused-isoindole derivatives have been obtained by a regioselective reduction of the spiro-imide compounds, followed by the allylation of the N-acyliminium intermediates (generated from the acetoxylactam compounds). Ruthenium catalyzed ring-closing metathesis of the above unsaturated derivatives provided novel spiroisoindoles.     

Total synthesis of (+/-)-asteriscanolide.

The total synthesis of asteriscanolide (1) has been achieved by taking advantage on an intermolecular Pauson-Khand cycloaddition and a ring-closing metathesis as key bond-forming transformations. The approach incorporates the cyclooctane stereogenic center prior to ring formation. Interestingly, the ring-closing metathesis generates a new eight-membered ring with an "in-out" intrabridgehead relationship.     

An efficient RCM-based synthesis of orthogonally protected meso-DAP and FK565

A condensation--ring-close--ring-open sequence was employed for the synthesis of orthogonally protected meso-2,6-diaminopimelic acid, starting from easily accessible chiral synthons. Condensation of suitably protected L-allylglycine and D-vinylglycinol derivatives was followed by Grubbs' ring-closing metathesis to generate the key lactam intermediate. This strategy has been applied to a concise total synthesis of the potent immunostimulatory peptide FK565.     

Facile and unified approach to skeletally diverse, privileged scaffolds

A novel strategy has been developed to generate a diverse array of privileged scaffolds from readily available tetrahydropyridine precursors that may be prepared by a multicomponent assembly process followed by a ring-closing metathesis. The functionality embedded in these key intermediates enables their facile elaboration into more complex structures of biological relevance by a variety of ring-forming processes and refunctionalizations.     

Microwave-enhanced synthesis of N-shifted buflavine analogues via a Suzuki-ring-closing metathesis protocol

[reaction: see text] A novel, microwave-enhanced six-step synthesis was devised for the synthesis of N-shifted buflavine analogues. Microwave-enhanced Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling and ring-closing metathesis reactions were used as the key steps. Microwave irradiation was found to enhance the ring-closing metathesis reaction to generate the otherwise difficultly obtainable medium-sized ring system of the target molecules.     

Enantioselective synthesis of condensed and transannular ring skeletons containing pyrrolidine moiety

A new approach toward condensed and transannular ring structures containing pyrrolidine unit has been developed, based on diastereoselective nucleophilic addition of lithium enolate of α-diazoacetoacetate to chiral N-sulfinyl imine and ring-closing metathesis.     

Synthesis of novel 1,7-annulated 4,6-dimethoxyindoles

A range of new 1,7-annulated indole derivatives has been prepared via a ring-closing metathesis approach starting from N-allyl-7-formyl indoles.     

Use of N-N bond stereodynamics in ring-closing metathesis to form medium-sized rings and macrocycles

A unique strategy based on double ring-closing metathesis for the formation of a 14-membered macrocyclic enamide has been developed. This strategy hinges upon the well-known stereodynamic and conformational behavior of N-substituted diacylhydrazines, which promotes an effective ring-closing metathesis of hydrazine-derived dienes and enynes to form 8- to 14-membered rings.     

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 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.     

Formal total synthesis of (-)-lepadiformine

[reaction: see text] A stereocontrolled approach to the preparation of the Weinreb intermediate 3 has been developed. The important features of this approach are the creation of stereogenic centers through a cyclic amino acid ester-enolate Claisen rearrangement and the use of ring-closing metathesis for the construction of the azaspirocyclic skeleton.     

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.     

Metathesis of a novel dienediyne system: A unique example involving the usage of in situ generated ethylene as cross-enyne metathesis partner

A unique example of sequential ring-closing metathesis and cross-enyne metathesis is reported. Here, the in situ generated ethylene by product from ring-closing metathesis is trapped by alkyne moiety. No metathesis product formation was observed with more reactive second generation catalyst in the absence of ethylene. Differential chemoselectivity with the first and second generation Grubbs’ catalyst has been observed when the reaction was performed in presence of the external source of ethylene.     

Ether-directed, stereoselective aza-Claisen rearrangements: synthesis of the piperidine alkaloid, alpha-conhydrine

[reaction: see text] A new approach for the stereoselective synthesis of the piperidine alkaloid (+)-alpha-conhydrine and its pyrrolidine derivative has been developed using a palladium(II)-catalyzed, MOM-ether-directed aza-Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis to effect the key steps.     

A metathesis-based approach to the synthesis of furans

The enol ether-olefin ring-closing metathesis reaction has been employed to generate 2,3-dihydrofurans that are equipped with a leaving group. These substrates are at the correct oxidation state to undergo an acid-catalyzed aromatization, and this strategy has been utilized to provide a mild and rapid route (four steps) to a range of novel 2,5-disubstituted furans. [reaction: see text]     

Carbohydrate-based macrolides prepared via a convergent ring closing metathesis approach: in search for novel antibiotics

An efficient convergent approach has been developed for the construction of novel, nonnatural polysubstituted carbohydrate-based macrolides. A key step in the synthesis is the formation of the macrocyclic ring via a ring-closing metathesis reaction. The obtained macrolide analogues have been screened for biological activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and molds.     

Synthesis of diverse macrocyclic peptidomimetics utilizing ring-closing metathesis and solid-phase synthesis

The synthesis of a range of highly functionalized peptidomimetic macrocycles has been accomplished using ring-closing metathesis and enyne tandem cross-metathesis-ring-closing metathesis reactions. This approach gives access to rigidified macrocycles modeled on the structures of cyclic peptides and designed to be biologically stable. The potential for peripheral functionalization of these templates has been demonstrated using Diels-Alder reactions, palladium(0) coupling reactions, and amide formation both in the solution phase and using polymer-supported syntheses.     

Total synthesis of (-)-callipeltoside A

A total synthesis of (-)-callipeltoside A (1) has been achieved. The core macrocycle was made via a dual macrolactonization/pyran hemiketal formation reaction, developed to circumvent issues related to the reversible nature of acylketene formation from β-keto lactone substrates. Initial approaches to the core of the natural product that revolved around ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and relay ring-closing metathesis (RRCM) reactions are also described.