Directional cyclooligomers via alkyne metathesis

Macrocyclic oligomers possessing direction-defining ester linkages were synthesized via metathesis of the nondirectional alkyne functional group. Alkyne metathesis is expected to scramble the relative orientation of adjacent ester groups, potentially leading to a complex mixture of macrocyclic products. We wondered whether a narrow product distribution would be achievable with a proper choice of the building block structure. Here we show that the shape of the building block determines whether the macrocyclic products are directionally uniform or scrambled. Specifically, two isomeric arylene-ethynylene polyesters afforded significantly different product distributions upon being subjected to depolymerization-macrocyclization. These results underscore the importance of learning how the shape and geometry of the building blocks affect the macrocyclization energy landscape.     

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.     

Reaction pathways leading to arylene ethynylene macrocycles via alkyne metathesis

Mechanistic studies on the direct formation of arylene ethynylene macrocycles via alkyne metathesis catalyzed by a molybdenum complex are reported. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry on the products from metathesis of monomer 1 show the initial formation of linear oligomers and large macrocycles (n > 6), followed by their transformation into the thermodynamically most stable product distribution-mainly the cyclic hexamer. Variable temperature and scrambling experiments reveal the reversibility of macrocycle formation. Nearly identical product distributions are observed from the cross metathesis of hexacycle 2 with diphenylacetylene and from the metathesis of bis(phenylethynyl) substituted monomer 4, demonstrating that macrocycle formation is thermodynamically rather than kinetically controlled. The metathesis byproduct, 3-hexyne, is shown to inhibit the catalyst. It is suggested that the relative metathesis rates of dialkylalkynes versus diarylalkynes trap the catalyst in a nonproductive manifold, rendering it unavailable for the productive metathesis of aryl alkylalkyne substrates. This finding indicates that dialkyl-substituted alkyne byproducts should be avoided (or efficiently removed) if the metatheses of aryl substrates, especially those with electron-withdrawing groups, are to proceed to high conversion.     

过渡金属催化的炔烃复分解反应

综述了过渡金属均相催化的炔烃复分解反应进展,主要分为两部分：一是炔烃复分解反应在炔烃合成中的应用,即从六、七十年代Mortreux催化剂的发现能均相催化炔烃的歧化反应,经过一系列的条件改造,合成了炔醚和二芳基乙炔等化合物,并提出了可能的两种机理：金属卡宾和金属卡拜机理;金属钼和钨的卡拜络合物相继合成,发现此类络合物能够催化官能化的二炔的复分解反应,合成一系列的大环化合物。二是炔烃复分解反应在合成高聚物中的应用,即钙和钨的卡拜络合物被用来催化ROMP和ADIMET反应合成高聚物,改良了的Mortreux催化剂也能催化高聚物的生成,这些高聚物在发光器件、有机"塑料"激光、液晶显示器上都有应用。     

Exceptional molecular architectures via cycloadditions to pyrenequinones

The thermal reaction of phencyclone (2) with a 1:1 mixture of 1,8-pyrenequinone (4) and 1,6-pyrenequinone (5) yields 2:1 adducts only of compounds 2 and 4. The observed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 8 is formed via double Diels-Alder addition of 2 to 4, and the polycyclic ketone 9 arises from a combination of Diels-Alder and hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of 2 and 4. In contrast, Lewis acid-catalyzed reactions of 2, 4, and 5 give 2:1 adducts only of 2 and 5. The chief product, polycyclic diketone 10, is derived from a double hetero-Diels-Alder addition of 2 to 5. X-ray analysis of compound 8 shows it to be an exceptionally large polycyclic aromatic arch, and the X-ray structure of 10 reveals it to be a chiral molecular tweezer.     

A high-yield, one-step synthesis of o-phenylene ethynylene cyclic trimer via precipitation-driven alkyne metathesis

[reaction: see text] A shape-persistent, conjugated o-phenylene ethynylene cyclic trimer was prepared in one step from tetrasubstituted benzene monomer 4 in 86% isolated yield through precipitation-driven alkyne metathesis. The template-free, selective generation of the molecular triangle 5 is a thermodynamically favored process and under equilibrium control. A novel tetrameric macrocycle 7 was generated via scrambling metathesis between tricycle 5 and hexacycle 6 using this dynamic covalent chemistry.     

Arylene ethynylene macrocycles prepared by precipitation-driven alkyne metathesis

A convenient, multigram-scale synthesis of arylene ethynylene macrocycles near room temperature is described. Driven by the precipitation of a diarylacetylene byproduct, alkyne metathesis produces the desired macrocycles in one step from monomers in high yields.     

Carbon networks based on benzocyclynes. 6. synthesis of graphyne substructures via directed alkyne metathesis

Intramolecular ring closing alkyne metathesis afforded the graphyne biscyclyne (3) in high macrocyclization yield and good overall yield. This methodology also furnished the tris[12]cyclyne 4, which contains the longest linear diphenylacetylene conjugation pathway for any graphyne substructure based on the tribenzo[12]cyclyne core.     

Increased activity of in situ catalysts for alkyne metathesis

[reaction: see text] Reaction of an enyne (1,1-diphenyl-pent-1-ene-3-yne) with a preheated mixture of Mo(CO)6/4-chlorophenol/3-hexyne at 130 degrees C furnished 1,1,6,6-tetraphenylhex-1,5-diene-3-yne in an 80% yield. If the starting material was heated with a mixture of Mo(CO)6 and 4-chlorophenol under identical conditions, no reaction was observed.     

A fine-tuned molybdenum hexacarbonyl/phenol initiator for alkyne metathesis

A new, highly potent activator for molybdenum hexacarbonyl and 2-fluorophenol is described. An "instant"catalyst formed in situ from molybdenum hexacarbonyl and 2-fluorophenol shows high activity for cross- and ring-closing alkyne metathesis reaction. The use of 2-fluorophenol can be combined with other activation methods to allow alkyne metathesis at relatively low temperature (80 degrees C).     

Reactions of strained hydrocarbons with alkene and alkyne metathesis catalysts

Here we describe the metathesis reactions of a strained eight-membered ring that contains both alkene and alkyne functionality. We find that the alkyne metathesis catalyst produces polymer through a ring-opening alkyne metathesis reaction that is driven by the strain release from the monomer. The strained monomer provides unusual reactivity with ruthenium-based alkene metathesis catalysts. We isolate a discrete trimeric species a Dewar benzene derivative that is locked in this form through an unsaturated cyclophane strap.     

Ring-closing alkyne metathesis mediated synthesis of cyclic β-turn mimetics

The application of ring-closing alkyne metathesis to synthesise conformationally restricted peptidic β-turn mimics has been investigated. A range of oligopeptides containing either two acetylenic amino acids, or two cysteine residues have been synthesised and subjected to suitable cyclisation conditions. The structures of the cyclic compounds are investigated by 2D NMR analysis.     

Phosphoraneiminato tungsten alkylidyne complexes as highly efficient alkyne metathesis catalysts

The tungsten neopentylidyne complexes [Me₃CCW(NPR₃){OCMe(CF₃)₂}₂] (3a, R = Cy; 3b, R = iPr) were prepared in excellent yields by the reaction of the solvate complex [Me₃CCW{OCMe(CF₃)₂}₃(DME)] (DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) with equimolar amounts of the corresponding phosphoraneiminato lithium species R₃PNLi (R = Cy, iPr) at room temperature. The products were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C{¹H}, ¹⁹F{¹H} and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Single crystals of both complexes were obtained from diethyl ether solutions at −35 °C, and the molecular structures were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 3a and 3b are able to efficiently catalyse alkyne cross-metathesis (ACM) of 3-pentynyl benzyl ether (4) and ring-closing alkyne metathesis (RCAM) of bis(3-pentynyl)adipate (6) at room temperature and with low catalyst loadings (1 or 2 mol%) to afford the diether 5 and the cyclic diester 7 in virtually quantitative yields. The reactions were carried out in the presence of molecular sieve 5 Å to adsorb 2-butyne during the metathesis.     

Synthetic applications with use of a silica-supported alkyne metathesis catalyst

A highly active and durable fumed silica-supported heterogeneous molybdenum(VI) catalyst was applied to ring closing alkyne metathesis and cyclooligomerization reactions to give high yields of metathesis products near room temperature conditions.     

Highly active molybdenum-alkylidyne catalysts for alkyne metathesis: synthesis from the nitrides by metathesis with alkynes

Terminal nitrido complexes NMo(OC(CF3)2Me)3 (4), NMo(OC(CF3)2Me)3(NCMe) (4-NCMe), and NMo(OC(CF3)3)3(NCMe) (5-NCMe) react irreversibly with 3-hexyne at elevated temperature in hydrocarbon solution to form the corresponding propylidyne complexes EtCMo(OC(CF3)2Me)3 (3) and EtCMo(OC(CF3)3)3 (6), long known as exceptionally active catalysts for alkyne metathesis. The propylidyne complexes are isolated as the more readily crystallized 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) adducts for convenience; 3-DME is isolated in 61% yield on a multigram scale.     

An InBr3 catalyzed one-pot three-component synthesis of functionalized spirodihydrofuran oxindoles via intramolecular alkyne carbonyl metathesis

A new and convenient one-pot methodology for the reaction of N-methyl isatin, alkynes and phenacyl bromides to selectively afford spiro dihydrofuran oxindole derivatives catalyzed by indium bromide under ambient temperature conditions has been documented. The method has been applied for the synthesis of a range of compounds with variable functionalities in good to excellent yields (76–92%). The significant advantages of this protocol are highlighted by excellent yields, cleaner reaction profiles and avoidance of expensive catalysts.     

Ring-closing alkyne metathesis. Application to the total synthesis of sophorolipid lactone

The first total synthesis of a major component of the microbial biosurfactant sophorolipid has been achieved. This approach to the 26-membered macrolide 1 containing a Z-configured alkene group in its lipidic tether spanning the sophorose backbone is based on a ring-closing metathesis reaction of diyne 21 catalyzed by Mo[N(t-Bu)(Ar)](3) (5; Ar = 3,5-dimethylphenyl) activated in situ by CH(2)Cl(2), followed by Lindlar reduction of the resulting cycloalkyne 22. The two beta-glycosidic linkages of compound 21 were installed by means of the glucal epoxide method and a modified Koenigs-Knorr reaction promoted by AgOTf/lutidine, respectively.