Ring‐Rearrangement Metathesis

Ring‐rearrangement metathesis (RRM) refers to the combination of several metathesis transformations into a domino process, in which an endocyclic double bond of a cycloolefin reacts with an exocyclic alkene. RRM has proven to be a powerful method for the rapid construction of complex structures. The extension of the basic ring‐opening–ring‐closing metathesis process by further metathesis steps as well as an examination of the driving forces, limits, scope, recent advantages, and future perspectives of these domino sequences is presented with various examples, thus reflecting the high efficiency and utility of RRM in organic synthesis.     

Ring‐opening polycondensations

Ring‐opening polycondensation is a novel synthetic strategy using heterocycles of any ring size having two reactive bonds as bifunctional monomers in step‐growth polymerizations. The first part of this article reviews previous publications. The previous studies mainly dealt with syntheses of polyesters from tin‐containing macrocycles including cyclic polylactones. These tin‐containing cyclic oligomers or polymers were easily obtained in two ways, either by ring‐closing polycondensation of dibutyltin compounds with preformed diols or by ring‐expansion polymerizations of lactones by means of cyclic tin‐initiators. The second part of this article presents new results which deal with ring‐opening polycondensations of silicon containing macrocycles derived from oligo(ethylene glycol)s. In these cases the chain growth proceeds by elimination of dimethyl dichlorosilane. In addition to syntheses of homopolyesters, copolycondensations with silylated or stanylenated monomers were studied. Finally, the thermodynamical aspects of ring‐opening polycondensations will be discussed.     

Tandem Ring‐Opening–Ring‐Closing Metathesis for Functional Metathesis Catalysts

Use of a tandem ring‐opening–ring‐closing metathesis (RORCM) strategy for the synthesis of functional metathesis catalysts is reported. Ring opening of 7‐substituted norbornenes and subsequent ring‐closing metathesis forming a thermodynamically stable 6‐membered ring lead to a very efficient synthesis of new catalysts from commercially available Grubbs’ catalysts. Hydroxy functionalized Grubbs’ first‐ as well as third‐generation catalysts have been synthesized. Mechanistic studies have been performed to elucidate the order of attack of the olefinic bonds. This strategy was also used to synthesize the ruthenium methylidene complex.     

Ring‐functionalized niobocene complexes

A series of new ring‐functionalized niobocene dichloride compounds (RCH₂C₅H₄)₂NbCl₂ (R = MeOCH₂, (CH₂)₅NCH₂, 2‐MeOC₆H₄, 3‐MeOC₆H₄, 4‐MeOC₆H₄, 2,4‐(MeO)₂C₆H₃, 3,4‐(MeO)₂C₆H₃, 2,4,6‐(MeO)₃C₆H₂, 3,4,5‐(MeO)₃C₆H₂, 4‐FC₆H₄, 4‐Me₂NC₆H₄) was synthesized and characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance. Three structures were determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis and revealed the expected bent metallocene structure with two cyclopentadienyl ligands and two chlorides coordinated to niobium in the oxidation state IV. Chlorides and the centroids of the η⁵‐bonded cyclopentadienyl rings define a distorted tetrahedron. The cytotoxicity study has demonstrated that substitution with methoxybenzyl groups can lead to highly active species, but the activity strongly varies with the number and positions of the methoxy groups in the benzene ring. The most active species under study – {2,4‐(MeO)₂C₆H₃CH₂C₅H₄}₂NbCl₂ – has a maximal inhibitory concentration value comparable with cisplatin. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oxidation‐Triggered Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Eight new N‐Hoveyda‐type complexes were synthesized in yields of 67–92 % through reaction of [RuCl₂(NHC)(Ind)(py)] (NHC=1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethylphenylimidazolin)‐2‐ylidene (SIMes) or 1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenylimidazolin)‐2‐ylidene (SIPr), Ind=3‐phenylindenylid‐1‐ene, py=pyridine) with various 1‐ or 1,2‐substituted ferrocene compounds with vinyl and amine or imine substituents. The redox potentials of the respective complexes were determined; in all complexes an iron‐centered oxidation reaction occurs at potentials close to E=+0.5 V. The crystal structures of the reduced and of the respective oxidized Hoveyda‐type complexes were determined and show that the oxidation of the ferrocene unit has little effect on the ruthenium environment. Two of the eight new complexes were found to be switchable catalysts, in that the reduced form is inactive in the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of cis‐cyclooctene (COE), whereas the oxidized complexes produce polyCOE. The other complexes are not switchable catalysts and are either inactive or active in both reduced and oxidized states.     

Cyclic Polymers by Ring‐Closure Strategies

The preparation of cyclic macromolecules has always represented a challenging task for polymer science, mainly because of difficulties in connecting chain extremities together. Initiated by the pioneering studies of Jacobson and Stockmayer, preparative pathways to cyclic polymers have been considerably improved within the last two decades thanks to the advent of both controlled polymerizations and efficient coupling reactions in organic chemistry. This Review aims to provide a critical up‐to‐date overview and illustrate the considerable efforts that have been made in the past few years to improve the availability of macrocycles for industrial and academic investigations through the use of the ring‐closure approach. Particular attention is paid to methods for the preparation of monocycles over more complex architectures, since the latter are usually derived from the former.     

Alkyne Metathesis as a New Synthetic Tool: Ring‐Closing,Ring‐Opening,and Acyclic

Conceptually and mechanistically (!) the metathesis of disubstituted alkynes in the presence of molybdenum or tungsten catalysts (see scheme) is related to alkene metathesis. With skillful experimentation and careful selection of substrate, alkyne metathesis can result in both ring opening/ring closing and the formation of high molecular weight polymers.     

Sulfur‐Functionalized Graphene Oxide by Epoxide Ring‐Opening

The treatment of graphene oxide (GO) with potassium thioacetate followed by an aqueous work‐up yields a new material via the ring‐opening of the epoxide groups. The new material is a thiol‐functionalized GO (GO‐SH) which is able to undergo further functionalization. Reaction with butyl bromide gives another new material, GO‐SBu, which shows significantly enhanced thermal stability compared to both GO and GO‐SH. The thiol‐functionalized GO material showed a high affinity for gold, as demonstrated by the selective deposition of a high density of gold nanoparticles.     

Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization of Biomass‐Derived Levoglucosenol

The readily available cellulose‐derived bicyclic compound levoglucosenol was polymerized through ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) to yield polylevoglucosenol as a novel type of biomass‐derived thermoplastic polyacetal, which, unlike polysaccharides, contains cyclic as well as linear segments in its main chain. High‐molar‐mass polyacetals with apparent weight‐average molar masses of up to 100 kg mol^?1 and dispersities of approximately 2 were produced despite the non‐living/controlled character of the polymerization due to irreversible deactivation or termination of the catalyst/active chain ends. The resulting highly functionalized polyacetals are glassy in bulk with a glass transition temperature of around 100 °C. In analogy to polysaccharides, polylevoglucosenol degrades slowly in an acidic environment.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Ring‐Opening Silylation of Benzofurans with Disilane

The catalytic ring‐opening silylation of benzofurans has been achieved by employing a copper catalyst and 1,2‐di‐tert‐butoxy‐1,1,2,2‐tetramethyldisilane, which could be easily prepared and handled without special care. The reaction afforded (E)‐o‐(β‐silylvinyl)phenols with complete stereoselectivity. The scope of benzofurans was well explored, and functional groups such as chloro, fluoro, and acetal were compatible with the reaction conditions. DFT calculations were used to determine the energy profile of the silylation and the origin of the stereoselectivity. The silylated product was proven to be useful as a synthetic intermediate and subsequently underwent transformations such as Pd‐catalyzed cross‐coupling with iodoarenes.     

Synthesis and Spectroscopic Properties of Fused‐Ring‐Expanded Aza‐Boradiazaindacenes

A series of fused‐ring‐expanded aza‐boradiazaindacene (aza‐BODIPY) dyes have been synthesized by reacting arylmagnesium bromides with phthalonitriles or naphthalenedicarbonitriles. An analysis of the structure–property relationships has been carried out based on X‐ray crystallography, optical spectroscopy, and theoretical calculations. Benzo and 1,2‐naphtho‐fused 3,5‐diaryl aza‐BODIPY dyes display markedly red shifted absorption and emission bands in the near‐IR region (>700 nm) due to changes in the energies of the frontier MOs relative to those of 1,3,5,7‐tetraaryl aza‐BODIPYs. Only one 1,2‐naphtho‐fused aza‐BODIPY of the three possible isomers is formed due to steric effects, and 2,3‐naphtho‐fused compounds could not be characterized because the final BF₂ complexes are unstable in solution. The incorporation of a  N(CH₃)₂ group at the para‐positions of a benzo‐fused 3,5‐diaryl aza‐BODIPY quenches the fluorescence in polar solvents and results in a ratiometric pH response, which could be used in future practical applications as an NIR “turn‐on” fluorescence sensor.     

Ring‐Opening/Ring‐Closing Protocols from Nitrothiophenes: Six‐Membered versus Unusual Eight‐Membered Sulfur Heterocycles through Michael‐Type Addition on Nitrobutadienes

When Ar is a low‐aromaticity homo‐ or heterosystem, the sulfonyl‐stabilized anion of nitrobutadienes 4 (which derive from the initial ring opening of 3‐nitrothiophene) undergoes a rather surprising addition onto the aromatic ring itself, thereby leading to the construction of an unusual eight‐membered sulfur heterocycle condensed with the original Ar ring. The competitiveness of such a pathway with respect to the formation of the thiopyran ring (i.e., addition onto the nitrovinyl moiety) is favored at low temperatures, thus revealing its nature as a kinetically controlled process.     

Block Copolypeptides Prepared by N‐Carboxyanhydride Ring‐Opening Polymerization

N‐Carboxyanhydride ring‐opening polymerization (NCA ROP) is a synthetically straightforward methodology to generate homopolypeptides. Extensive control over the polymerization permits the production of highly monodisperse synthetic polypeptides to a targeted molecular weight in the absence of unfavorable side reactions. Sequential NCA ROP permits the creation of block copolypeptides composed of individual polypeptide blocks boasting different functionalities, secondary structures, and desirable chemical properties. Consequently, a plethora of novel materials have been generated that have found wide‐range applicability. This review offers an insight into contemporary synthetic approaches toward NCA ROP before highlighting a number of block copolypeptide architectures generated.     

Synthesis of Cembranoid Analogues through Ring‐Closing Metathesis of Terpenoid Precursors: A Challenge Regarding Ring‐Size Selectivity

A systematic study on ring‐closing metathesis with Grubbs II catalyst to cembranoid macrocycles is described. Acyclic terpenoids with a functional group X in the homoallylic position relative to an RCM active terminus and substituents R, R¹ directly attached to the other terminal double bond were prepared from geraniol derived trienes and fragments that are based on bromoalkenes and dimethyl malonate. Such terpenoids were suitable precursors, despite the presence of competing double bonds in their framework. The size of R and R¹ is crucial for successful macrocyclization. Whereas small alkyl substituents at the double bond directed the RCM towards six‐membered ring formation, cross metathesis leading to dimers dominated for bulkier alkyl groups. A similar result was obtained for precursors without functional group X. In the case of unsymmetrically substituted terpenoid precursor (R=Et, R¹=Me) with homoallylic OTBS or OMe group, the RCM could be controlled towards formation of macrocyclic cembranoids, which were isolated with excellent E‐selectivity. The role of the substituents was further studied by quantum chemical calculations of simplified model substrates. Based on these results a mechanistic rationale is proposed.     

Ring‐Closing Metathesis on an Allyl‐Terminated Carbosilane Dendrimer

Grubbs' catalyst was used to prepare a series of carbosilane dendrimers with silacyclopentene peripheral groups, suitable for further elaboration to functional dendrimers. The efficiency of the ring closing metathesis reaction was found to be strongly dependent on the reaction temperature and the amount of catalyst used, as shown by ¹H NMR monitoring.     

Three‐Dimensional Heterocycles by Iron‐Catalyzed Ring‐Closing Sulfoxide Imidation

A general and atom‐economical method for the synthesis of cyclic sulfoximines by intramolecular imidations of azido‐containing sulfoxides using a commercially available Fe^II phthalocyanine (Fe^IIPc) as catalyst has been developed. The method conveys a broad functional group tolerance and the resulting three‐dimensional heterocycles can be modified by cross‐coupling reactions.