Expedient synthesis of conjugated triynes via alkyne metathesis

The first synthesis of conjugated triynes by molybdenum-catalysed alkyne metathesis is reported. Strategic to the success of this approach is the utilization of sterically-hindered diynes that allowed for the site-selective alkyne metathesis to produce the desired conjugated triyne products. The steric hindrance of the alkyne moiety was found to be crucial in preventing the formation of diyne byproducts. This novel synthetic strategy was amenable to self- and cross-metathesis providing straightforward access to the corresponding symmetrical and dissymmetrical triynes with high selectivity.

The first synthesis of symmetrical and dissymmetrical conjugated triynes by self- and cross-metathesis was successfully achieved thanks to the use of hindered diynes.     

Late-stage Modification of Cage Diones by Tandem Metathesis

Herein, we report the application of tandem ring-opening cross-metathesis (ROCM) and tandem ring-opening cross-metathesis followed by cross-metathesis (ROCM/CM) in highly strained diastereomeric heptacyclic cage diones (HCCD's) catalyzed by ruthenium catalysts. These caged diastereomeric compounds have a high degree of ring strain as well as steric congestion. Therefore, the present work related to ROCM is unique and intricate as compared to simple norbornene derivatives. It is useful to prepare new hexacyclic cage derivatives suitable for high-energy density materials. The synthetic strategy of starting cage compounds features the Diels-Alder reaction, and [2+2] photocycloaddition as key steps.     

Synthesis of tri-substituted vinyl boronates via ruthenium-catalyzed olefin cross-metathesis

Tri-substituted vinyl pinacol boronates, which are key reactive intermediates in a variety of transformations, are synthesized using ruthenium-catalyzed olefin cross-metathesis of α-substituted vinyl boronates and various alkenes. Cross-metathesis of 2-isopropenyl pinacol boronate proceeds with moderate yield and high Z-selectivity when sterically unhindered cross partners are used. Cross-metathesis of vinyl boronates that possess α-substitution larger than a methyl group is also achieved. Yield and Z-selectivity are lower in these cases, and the success of a cross-metathesis reaction is highly dependent on the steric bulk surrounding the double bond of the α-substituted vinyl boronate.     

Experimental and theoretical study on the olefin metathesis of alkenyl Baylis-Hillman adducts using second-generation Grubbs catalyst

[reaction: see text] We have investigated the olefin metathesis from alkenyl Baylis-Hillman adducts using second-generation Grubbs catalyst. In the experiment, the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) product could not be found, while the cross-metathesis (CM) products were found. The computational studies provided consistent explanations for the experimental result. The most limiting factor for the RCM process using second-generation Grubbs catalyst is caused by the high strain and steric effect in the metallacyclobutane intermediates.     

Synthetic study of (+)-anthramycin using ring-closing enyne metathesis and cross-metathesis

Synthesis of (+)-anthramycin was examined. A pyrrolobenzodiazepine skeleton could be synthesized by reductive cyclization of pyrrolidine derivative, which was obtained by enyne metathesis. The conjugated enamide ester part of (+)-anthramycin derivative was constructed by cross-metathesis.     

Highly active water-soluble olefin metathesis catalyst

A novel water-soluble ruthenium olefin metathesis catalyst supported by a poly(ethylene glycol) conjugated saturated 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene ligand is reported. The catalyst displays improved activity in ring-opening metathesis polymerization, ring-closing metathesis, and cross-metathesis reactions in aqueous media.     

Toward Metathesis Reactions on Vinylphosphaalkenes

Abstract

Attempts to utilize C-ethylenic phosphaalkenes in metathesis reactions are discussed. Unprecedented reactivity is observed where the vinylphosphaalkene undergoes the first step of the catalytic cycle and cross-metathesis with the phenylmethylene moiety of Grubbs 2nd generation catalyst. However, homo-metathesis reaction to form 1,6-diphosphahexa-1,3,5-triene is not observed, presumably due to steric constraints.     

Increased efficiency in cross-metathesis reactions of sterically hindered olefins

Efficiency in olefin cross-metathesis reactions is affected upon reducing the steric bulk of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands of ruthenium-based catalysts. For the formation of disubstituted olefins containing one or more allylic substituents, the catalyst bearing N-tolyl groups is more efficient than the corresponding N-mesityl catalyst. In contrast, the formation of trisubstituted olefins is more efficient using the N-mesityl-containing catalyst. A hypothesis to explain this dichotomy is described.     

Total synthesis of GEX1A

An efficient and readily modifiable synthesis of GEX1A/herboxidiene/TAN-1609 ( 1) was developed. This modular synthesis featured a Suzuki coupling to install the conjugated diene and a Ru-catalyzed lactonization and Roush crotylation to construct the functionalized tetrahydropyran moiety. Myers' alkylation, cross-metathesis, and Keck crotylation were employed for assembly of the biologically essential side-chain domain.     

Allyl sulfides are privileged substrates in aqueous cross-metathesis: application to site-selective protein modification

Allyl sulfides undergo efficient cross-metathesis in aqueous media with Hoveyda-Grubbs second generation catalyst 1. The high reactivity of allyl sulfides in cross-metathesis was exploited in the first examples of cross-metathesis on a protein surface. S-Allylcysteine was incorporated chemically into the protein, providing the requisite allyl sulfide handle. Preliminary efforts to genetically incorporate S-allylcysteine into proteins are also reported.     

Tandem enyne metathesis and claisen rearrangement: a versatile approach to conjugated dienes of variable substitution patterns

To extend the versatility of the ruthenium carbene-promoted enyne metathesis, it was combined with an Ireland ester enolate Claisen rearrangement. This reaction sequence provided conjugated dienes of higher substitution pattern than that obtained through a cross-enyne metathesis alone. The Ireland-Claisen was conducted across both acyclic and cyclic dienes produced from cross-metathesis and methylene-free enyne metathesis, respectively. In the case of cyclodienes, the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement produced s-trans locked dienes which underwent mode-selective ene reaction. The tandem, sequential use of the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement also proved suitable for chirality transfer originating from chiral propargylic alcohols. Last, the tandem metathesis/Ireland-Claisen was utilized to access 4-substituted-3,5-cyclohexadiene diol derivatives, which are valuable chiral intermediates for natural product synthesis. The combination of this pericyclic reaction with a catalytic metathesis reaction extends the versatility of cross-metathesis since additional diene motifs can be accessed.     

Olefin cross-metathesis reactions at room temperature using the nonionic amphiphile "PTS": just add water

The first examples of unsymmetrical olefin cross-metathesis reactions in water, involving water-insoluble substrates, at room temperature and using commercially available catalysts are reported. The key to success is to include small percentages of the nonionic, vitamin E-based amphiphile "PTS". The nanometer micelles formed accommodate water-insoluble substrates, along with a readily available Ru-based metathesis catalyst. Reactions proceed at ambient temperatures with high efficiency and very high E-selectivity, and products are easily isolated.     

Molecular orbital studies on the spin states of nitroxide species: Bis- and trisnitroxymetaphenylene, 1,1-bisnitroxyphenylethylene,and 4,6-dimethoxy-1,3-dialkylnitroxy-benzenes

We describe by approximate MO calculation a number of species for which high spin states are either the ground state or lie very low in energy. These are models for the spin coupling in projected ferromagnetic organic materials. The theory guiding their construction is based on planar conjugated systems, while experimentally realized systems are often far from planarity. We can by appeal to steric decoupling explain the failure of the prediction that methoxy subsitution on metaphenylene-coupled nitroxides should stabilize the triplet. However, we find in general that the qualitative rules derived from discussion of planar systems are robust; drastic departures from planarity are required before they lose their value. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Nitro-substituted Hoveyda-Grubbs ruthenium carbenes: enhancement of catalyst activity through electronic activation

The design, synthesis, stability, and catalytic activity of nitro-substituted Hoveyda-Grubbs metathesis catalysts are described. The highly active and stable meta- and para-substituted complexes are attractive from a practical point of view. These catalysts operate in very mild conditions and can be successfully applied in various types of metathesis [ring-closing metathesis, cross-metathesis (CM), and enyne metathesis]. Although the presence of a NO(2) group leads to catalysts that are dramatically more active than both the second-generation Grubbs's catalyst and the phosphine-free Hoveyda's carbene, enhancement of reactivity is somewhat lower than that observed for a sterically activated Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst. Attempts to combine two modes of activation, steric and electronic, result in severely decreasing a catalyst's stability. The present findings illustrate that different Ru catalysts turned out to be optimal for different applications. Whereas phosphine-free carbenes are catalysts of choice for CM of various electron-deficient substrates, they exhibit lower reactivity in the formation of tetrasubstituted double bonds. This demonstrates that no single catalyst outperforms all others in all possible applications.     

Improvement of chemical stability of conjugated dienes by chlorine substitution

Conjugated systems have versatile utilities in various fields including organic synthesis, pharmaceutical development, and material science. Such systems take advantage of their properties, which include their unique reactivity, relatively rigid structures, and low HOMO-LUMO gap energies. Their utility and the handling of conjugated systems however are both limited by excessively high photosensitivity and reactivity. We now report a novel molecular approach to the improvement of the chemical stability of the acyclic conjugated system against the photolysis and oxidation reactions simply by introduction of a chlorine atom into the conjugated system. Systematic studies of substrates with various substituents reveals that the improved chemical stability is based on the additive effects of the steric and electronic properties of the chlorine atom substituent.     

Total and formal enantioselective synthesis of lyngbic acid and hermitamides A and B

The synthesis of lyngbic acid and both hermitamides A and B, three compounds previously isolated from Lyngbya majuscula has been achieved by a cross-metathesis between 4-methoxyundec-1-ene with pent-4-enoic acid or its amides. The reaction proceeds smoothly to deliver the target molecules in appreciable yields and with a very high E selectivity as determined by NMR experiments. Allyl transfer using a camphor derived homoallylic alcohol allowed the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched starting materials.     

Immobilization of the Grubbs second-generation ruthenium-carbene complex on poly(ethylene glycol): a highly reactive and recyclable catalyst for ring-closing and cross-metathesis

A poly(ethylene glycol)-bound Hoveyda-Grubbs Ru catalyst derived from the Grubbs second-generation Ru carbene complex was synthesized and shown to be highly reactive in the ring-closing metathesis of a wide variety of diene substrates, yielding di-, tri-, and tetra-substituted carbocyclic and heterocyclic olefins. The immobilized catalyst also proved to be highly reactive and recyclable in cross-metathesis and ring-opening/cross-metathesis. In all cases tested, the catalyst exhibited a high level of recyclability and reusability.     

A Stable Saddle‐Shaped Polycyclic Hydrocarbon with an Open‐Shell Singlet Ground State

Diindeno‐fused bischrysene, a new diindeno‐based polycyclic hydrocarbon (PH), was synthesized and characterized. It was elucidated in detailed experimental and theoretical studies that this cyclopenta‐fused PH possesses an open‐shell singlet biradical structure in the ground state and exhibits high stability under ambient conditions (t _1/2=39 days). The crystal structure unambiguously shows a novel saddle‐shaped π‐conjugated carbon skeleton due to the steric hindrance of the central cove‐edged bischrysene unit. UV/Vis spectral measurements revealed that the title molecule has a very narrow optical energy gap of 0.92 eV, which is consistent with the electrochemical analysis and further supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.     

Cross-metathesis between alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone and olefins: a dramatic additive effect

[reaction: see text] Olefin cross-metathesis between alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactone and terminal olefins is described. Moderate to excellent yields of alpha-alkylidene-gamma-butyrolactones were obtained with high E-stereoselectivity in the presence of low catalyst loading in refluxing CH2Cl2. In addition, the use of various additives was found to have a dramatic effect on the efficiency of the cross-metathesis (CM) process by circumventing the formation of the isomerized byproduct.     

Cross-metathesis of vinyl aromatic heterocycles: comparison of Grubbs catalyst and Schrock catalyst

Metathesis of 2-vinyl aromatic heterocycles such as furan and thiophene has been investigated in the presence of a ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst from a synthetic standpoint. The self-metathesis of 2-vinyl aromatic heterocycles was not successful. However, the cross-metathesis of these aromatic heterocycles with 1-octene occurred efficiently, but the selectivity of cross-metathesis product was very low, below 50%. The origin of the low selectivity of heterodimer formation was elucidated through metallacyclobutane intermediate mechanism, observations of carbenes by in situ ¹H NMR, and the reaction products. The effect of oxygen on the reaction behavior was also examined. Furthermore, the data obtained on the Grubbs catalyst were compared with those on a molybdenum-based Schrock catalyst.