Synthesis of a para-quinone macrolactam related to geldanamycin by ring closing metathesis

Model studies conducted with the α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated 3-alkenyl-2,4,5-trimethoxyanilides 11 revealed that a ring closing metathesis (RCM) of these compounds is possible if the ansa chain contains more than 14 atoms. The (Z)-configurated products 12c-e were obtained in good yields (77-87%) and with perfect simple diastereoselectivity. Since the oxidation of the 2,4,5-trimethoxyanilides led predominantly to undesired ortho-quinones such as 15 or to para-azaquinones such as 16 the macrocyclic 2,5-di-iso-propoxy-4-methoxyanilide 22 was prepared. The iso-propyl protecting groups could be selectively cleaved and the intermediate para-hydroquinone oxidized on air to the desired para-quinone 2 (86% yield). The compound shows some key features (macrolactam ring with the same ring size, α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated anilide, para-quinone) of geldanamycin.     

Four-component Pd-catalysed cascade/ring closing metathesis. Synthesis of heterocyclic enones

A palladium-catalysed four-component process is described involving carbon monoxide, allene and aryl/heteroaryl iodides generating (π-allyl) palladium species, which are intercepted by alkene tethered nitrogen nucleophiles to afford 1,6- and 1,7-dienones. Subsequent ring closing metathesis affords five- and six-membered N-heterocyclic enones. The N-heterocyclic enones are active dipolarophiles in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions as exemplified by azomethine ylide and nitrone cycloadditions.     

Synthesis of pyranonaphthoquinone antibiotics involving the ring closing metathesis of a vinyl ether

The synthesis of two antibiotic pyranonaphthoquinones was performed by a straightforward synthetic route utilizing ring closing metathesis. Vinylation of 3-(1-propenyl)-2-hydroxymethyl-1,4-dimethoxynaphthalene under iridium catalysis and subsequent ring closing metathesis of 3-(1-propenyl)-2-vinyloxymethyl-1,4-dimethoxynaphthalene with Grubbs' catalyst paved the way to the natural antibiotics pentalongin and psychorubrin.     

Synthesis of huperzine B through ring closing metathesis

Huperzine B and its analogues were obtained through ring closing metathesis of N-alkenyl amine to the corresponding tricyclic compounds.     

Synthesis of substituted butenolides by the ring closing metathesis of two electron deficient olefins: a general route to the natural products of paraconic acids class

A variety of allyl acrylates possessing electron-withdrawing groups undergo RCM using the second generation Grubbs’ catalyst in the presence of a Lewis acid resulting in diverse butenolides in high isolated yields. This methodology provides a general route to the natural products of paraconic acids class, exemplified by a total synthesis of (±)-phaseolinic acid.     

Synthesis of benzo-fused medium ring cyclic ethers via a Michael addition-ring closing metathesis strategy involving nitroaliphatic compounds

Nitroalkenes derived from O-protected salicylaldehyde undergo facile Michael-type addition of nucleophiles possessing unsaturated tether. Ring closing metathesis of the Michael adducts provides benzo-fused medium ring cyclic ethers possessing a nitroalkyl functionality.     

Synthesis of phosphorus containing medium ring heterocycles by sequential Claisen rearrangement and ring closing metathesis

An efficient method for the synthesis of novel medium ring phosphorus containing heterocycles starting from phenol derivatives by ruthenium catalyzed ring closing metathesis is described. This work deals with a sequential aromatic Claisen-rearrangement, coupling of an allyl/vinyl phosphonate, and ring closing metathesis reaction. All of these reactions were carried out at ambient temperature to afford the medium-sized phosphorus heterocycles in excellent yields.     

Studies toward Taxuspine X, a potent multidrug-resistance reversing agent, via ring closing metathesis strategy

The synthesis of bicyclic 3,8-secotaxane diterpenoids, which includes Taxuspine U and X, has been achieved through an approach that involves a ring closing metathesis reaction as key step for the macrocycle formation.     

Total synthesis of patulolide A through ring closing metathesis

A simple and efficient total synthesis of patulolide A from readily available 7-octen-1-ol is reported by asymmetric synthetic approach. The key reactions involved are asymmetric dihydroxylation using AD-mix-β and Grubbs’ ring-closing metathesis reaction for the synthesis macrocyclic ring system.     

Efficient route to 20-32 membered macrocyclic crown diamides via ring closing metathesis

RCM of the appropriate bis-allyloxyacetanilides and bis-o-allyloxyphenoxyacetanilides led to an efficient synthetic approach to the corresponding macrocylic polyoxadiamides with 20- to 32-membered ring sizes in good to excellent yields using Grubbs' catalyst.     

Efficient synthesis of 19-31 membered macrocyclic tetralactones via ring closing metathesis in ionic liquids

The ring closing metathesis reaction in the presence of Grubbs catalyst was demonstrated using several ionic liquids to synthesize a range of macrocyclic tetralactones having ring size of 19 to 31 membered with different spacers. The ionic liquid [mmim][PF₆] was found to be an excellent solvent and the recovery of the catalyst was demonstrated. X-ray analysis of a representative macrocyclic tetralactone was also reported.     

Stereoselective synthesis of advanced intermediates en route to Taxuspine U and X: a study of macrocyclization via ring closing metathesis to highly constrained twelve-membered rings

The stereoselective synthesis of an advanced intermediate of Taxuspine U and X has been accomplished using a ring closing metathesis strategy. The feasibility of ring closing metathesis in synthesizing highly constrained and functionalized macrocycles has been demonstrated provided the appropriate substrate structure and substitution pattern are chosen.     

Central core of uprolides D and E: a survey of some ring closing metathesis approaches

A preliminary study dealing with the feasibility of ring closing metathesis and ene-yne ring closing metathesis to construct the central bicyclic cores of uprolides D and E was investigated.     

Efficient synthesis of 18-40 membered macrocyclic polyoxadiamides and polyoxatetraamides via ring closing metathesis

Ring closing metathesis of the appropriate 1,ω-dienes led to efficient synthetic approaches towards the corresponding macrocyclic polyoxadiamides and tetraamides with 18-40 membered ring sizes in good to excellent yields using Grubbs' catalyst.     

S-Transalkylation/ring closing metathesis as a route to azathiamacrocycles incorporating 2,2′-bipyridine subunits

A new route to cyclophanes 6a,b incorporating 2,2′-bipyridine subunits has been elaborated using as the key steps (1) S-transalkylation of 6,6′-bis(methylsulfanyl)-2,2′-bipyridines 2a,b with ethyl bromoacetate resulting in the formation of 6,6′-bis[(ethoxycarbonyl)methylsulfanyl]-2,2′-bipyridines 3a,b and (2) ring-closing metathesis of the corresponding alkenyl ethers 5a,b.     

Ring closing metathesis strategies towards functionalised 1,7-annulated 4,6-dimethoxyindoles

A ring closing metathesis approach has been used to prepare a novel range of indoles 1,7-annulated with nitromethyl and lactone functionalised medium-sized rings. Initial studies into the preparation of lactam functionalised rings are also discussed.     

Synthesis of fused dihydropyrido[e]purines via ring closing metathesis

Ring closing metathesis (RCM) of 8,9-diallylpurines or 9-butenyl-8-vinylpurines with the Grubbs 2nd generation catalyst resulted in fused 6,9- or 8,9-dihydropyrido[e]purines, respectively. The 8,9-dialkenylpurines were prepared from 8-bromopurines after 9-alkenylation and subsequent Stille coupling at C-8 with alkenylstannanes in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₄ or Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂.     

Asymmetric synthesis of cyclic β-hydroxyallylsilanes via sequential allyltitanation-ring closing metathesis

Highly enantioenriched cyclic β-hydroxyallylsilanes have been prepared via enantioselective allylation of unsaturated aldehydes using a chiral allyltitanium reagent, followed by a ring-closing metathesis. Functionalized rings of various sizes have been synthesized and the electronic effect of the silicon group in the RCM reaction has been studied. The resulting cyclic β-hydroxyallylsilanes reacted stereoselectively with a variety of electrophilic reagents. A first application of this method to the synthesis of a highly functionalized dihydropyrane is reported.     

Studies towards the synthesis of the bicyclic 3,8-secotaxane diterpenoid system using a ring closing metathesis strategy

Molecular modelling studies on the interations between taxanes and tubulins, developed by us, revealed that modified Taxuspines U and X could adopt a conformation similar to that of the bioactive conformation of paclitaxel and could be well accommodated within the proposed model. Accordingly, simplified Taxuspine U and X analogues have been rationally designed and their bicyclic 3,8-secotaxane diterpenoids intermediates have been synthesized through an approach that involves ring closing metathesis (RCM) as the key step for the macrocycle formation. Extensive studies on RCM have been performed using chemically diverse substrates, outlining the influence in the macrocyclization of the presence and position of functionalities, the molecular constraints and the importance of the site of ring closure.     

Effects of temperature and concentration in some ring closing metathesis reactions

Ring closing metathesis (RCM) has emerged as a powerful tool to construct macrocyclic ring systems. However, the product distribution of monomer and oligomers is often a problem in the formation of medium to large rings. In the course of synthetic studies on the natural product radicicol and its analogs, we have found that the reaction temperature, along with concentration, has significant impact on the outcome of the product ratio. Specifically, carrying out the RCM reaction in refluxing toluene (110°C) at higher dilution affords improved yields of the monomeric macrocycle. Similar observations for another family of macrolactone natural products, the epothilones, are also reported.