Total synthesis of (+)-cylindramide A

A total synthesis of cylindramide A has been completed in 19 steps. The key step of the synthesis is a tandem ring-opening-ring-closing-cross metathesis that converts a readily available norbornene into an advanced intermediate.     

Role of the gem-difluoro moiety in the tandem ring-closing metathesis-olefin isomerization: regioselective preparation of unsaturated lactams

Careful selection of the metathesis catalyst, solvent, and reaction conditions allows for the efficient and regioselective synthesis of isomeric fluorinated and nonfluorinated lactam derivatives II and III from precursor amides I through a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction or a tandem RCM-isomerization protocol, respectively. The presence of the gem-difluoro moiety in the starting materials exerts a pivotal effect by directing the isomerization step, making the overall tandem transformation a regioselective process. The scope, limitations, and synthetic usefulness of this protocol are also discussed.     

Convergent total synthesis of squamostolide

A convergent total synthesis of the Annonaceous acetogenin squamostolide, in a longest linear sequence of nine steps from d-mannitol, is reported. Central to the efficiency of the synthesis is a highly selective tandem ring-closing/cross metathesis step in which lactone formation and fragment coupling are accomplished.     

Total synthesis of (+)-cyanthiwigin U

A concise total synthesis of the tricyclic terpene cyanthiwigin U has been accomplished in 12 steps and 17% overall yield. The key step of the synthesis is a two-directional tandem metathesis reaction that forms the cyclohepta[e]indene core from a readily available bicyclo[2.2.2]octene.     

Variable and stereoselective synthesis of azasugar analogues by a ruthenium-catalyzed ring rearrangement

A novel ruthenium-catalyzed ring opening/ring closing tandem metathesis reaction with a catalytic transfer of stereocenters from a ring to an olefinic chain is described. This ring rearrangement serves as the key step in the stereoselective synthesis of the new azasugar analogues 1 and 2.     

A new approach to (-)-swainsonine by ruthenium-catalyzed ring rearrangement

A new enantioselective synthesis of the idolizidine alkaloid (-)-swainsonine 1 in 40% overall yield starting from the known oxazolidinone 6 is described. Throughout the synthesis, the high efficiency of metal-catalyzed reactions is illustrated. The key step is a new ruthenium-catalyzed metathesis rearrangement reaction. In this ring-closing/ring-opening tandem process, stereocenters are transferred from a ring to the olefinic side chain of the formed heterocycle. The metathesis precursor was obtained by palladium-catalyzed desymmetrization of cyclopentenediol. The synthesis was completed by functionalization of the terminal double bond, cyclization of the second ring, and diastereoselective dihydroxylation.     

Tandem sequence of cross metathesis--ring-closing metathesis reaction of alkynyl silyloxy-tethered enynes

A tandem cross metathesis (CM)--ring-closing metathesis (RCM) sequence to form cyclic siloxanes is reported. This new enyne metathesis platform expands the scope and utility of the regio- and stereoselective cross metathesis reaction between silylated alkynes and terminal alkenes. The initial cross metathesis was directed to occur on the alkyne by employing sterically hindered mono-, di-, and trisubstituted alkenes tethered to the alkyne via silyl ether. The regio- and stereoselectivity feature of the initial CM step in this tandem CM-RCM process is identical to that of the CM reactions of silylated alkynes and alkenes. This tandem sequence provides both synthetically useful silylated 1,3-diene building blocks and insights into the reaction mechanism of the enyne metathesis reaction.     

Tandem Three‐Component Synthesis of syn‐1,2‐ and syn‐1,3‐Diol Derivatives

The development of efficient methods for stereocontrolled synthesis of polyol derivatives has been of continuing interest for the synthetic community. We describe herein tandem olefin cross‐metathesis/hemiacetalization/intramolecular oxa‐Michael addition of allylic/homoallylic alcohols, α,β‐unsaturated ketones, and aldehydes, which enabled the synthesis of syn‐1,2‐ and syn‐1,3‐diol derivatives in a step‐economical manner. A series of differentially protected polyol derivatives could be obtained in subsequent transformations via chemoselective/regioselective cleavage of the acetal moiety of the tandem reaction products.     

Concise total synthesis of (-)-muricatacin by tandem ring-closing/cross metathesis

A strategy for the synthesis of chiral 5-(1-hydroxyalk-2-enyl)-5H-furan-2-ones and its application to the total synthesis of (-)-muricatacin, in four steps and 37% overall yield from (R,R)-hexa-1,5-diene-3,4-diol, are described. The key synthetic step in this approach is a highly regioselective and stereoselective tandem ring-closing/cross metathesis reaction in which both lactone formation and alkyl chain extension are accomplished in an efficient one-pot process.     

New synthesis of carbazole-1,4-quinone using a tandem ring-closing metathesis and dehydrogenation reaction under oxygen atmosphere, and its application to the synthesis of murrayaquinone A

A tandem ring-closing metathesis and dehydrogenation reaction under oxygen atmosphere was newly developed to the synthesis of carbazole-1,4-quinones. This new tandem reaction was applied to the synthesis of murrayaquinone A in four steps.     

Total synthesis of (+)-dihydrocuscohygrine and cuscohygrine

The first enantioselective synthesis of (+)-dihydrocuscohygrine 1 and cuscohygrine 2 is presented. 1 was obtained in nine steps and 30% overall yield with a ruthenium-catalyzed tandem ring rearrangement metathesis key step starting from enantiomerically pure cycloheptene-1,3,5-triol derivative 6. The unknown absolute configuration of natural dihydrocuscohygrine 1 could be determined as (S,S)-(-). Cuscohygrine 2 was obtained by Jones oxidation of 1 in quantitative yield but unfortunately with complete epimerization.     

A total synthesis of (+/-)-trans-kumausyne

A short total synthesis of (+/-)-trans-kumausyne is reported. Key steps include a tandem ring-opening-ring-closing metathesis and the effective introduction of the pentenyl side chain by allylation-cross metathesis. [reaction: see text]     

Total synthesis of (-)-isoschizogamine

A first asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-isoschizogamine has been accomplished. Our synthesis features the facile construction of the carbon framework of the natural product through a Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement, a tandem metathesis, a stereoselective rhodium-mediated 1,4-addition of an arylboronic acid, and a ring-closing metathesis via a hemiaminal ether.     

Tandem Catalysis Utilizing Olefin Metathesis Reactions

Since olefin metathesis transformation has become a favored synthetic tool in organic synthesis, more and more distinct non‐metathetical reactions of alkylidene ruthenium complexes have been developed. Depending on the conditions applied, the same olefin metathesis catalysts can efficiently promote isomerization reactions, hydrogenation of C=C double bonds, oxidation reactions, and many others. Importantly, these transformations can be carried out in tandem with olefin metathesis reactions. Through addition of one portion of a catalyst, a tandem process provides structurally advanced products from relatively simple substrates without the need for isolation of the intermediates. These aspects not only make tandem catalysis very attractive from a practical point of view, but also open new avenues in (retro)synthetic planning. However, in the literature, the term “tandem process” is sometimes used improperly to describe other types of multi‐reaction sequences. In this Concept, a number of examples of tandem catalysis involving olefin metathesis are discussed with an emphasis on their synthetic value.     

Tandem RCM-isomerization approach to glycals of desoxyheptoses from a common precursor

Ring closing metathesis and tandem RCM-isomerization have been applied to the synthesis of six- to eight-membered oxacycles, starting from a common precursor. The products of the tandem RCM-isomerization sequence are glycals of 3-deoxyheptoses of varying ring size.     

Tandem Claisen rearrangement and ruthenium catalyzed enyne bond reorganization as a route to the synthesis of tricyclic 1,8-naphthyridinones

A novel procedure for the synthesis of substituted 1,8-naphthyridinones via tandem Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing enyne metathesis is reported.     

Total synthesis of (+)-lepadin B: stereoselective synthesis of nonracemic polysubstituted hydroquinolines using an RC-ROM process

This communication describes a new tandem metathesis reaction for which an RC-ROM mechanism was experimentally supported. This process was successfully applied to the synthesis of cis-fused polyhydroquinolines enabling a short stereoselective total synthesis of ent-lepadin B.     

Studies directed toward the synthesis of the scabrosins: validation of a tandem enyne metathesis approach

A synthetic approach to the scabrosin family of antibiotics using a ruthenium carbene-catalyzed tandem metathesis and a Pd(II)-catalyzed cyclization is described. The chiral propargyl amino acid is furnished through enantioselective phase-transfer propargylation. The synthesis of the cyclohexadiene ring system is achieved through ring synthesis using tandem enyne metathesis, previously developed in our lab. The complementary methods of methylene-free and 1,5-hexadiene-alkyne metatheses are compared. The indoline heterocycles are formed using a two-step chloroacetoxylation (Bäckvall reaction) with subsequent nucleophilic attack by an amide nucleophile. The indoline subunits were joined and cyclized to furnish the core diketopiperazine ring. The stereochemical assignment of intermediates is also discussed.     

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.     

Tandem Z‐Selective Cross‐Metathesis/Dihydroxylation: Synthesis of anti‐1,2‐Diols

A stereoselective synthesis of anti‐1,2‐diols has been developed using a multitasking Ru catalyst in an assisted tandem catalysis protocol. A cyclometalated Ru complex catalyzes first a Z‐selective cross‐metathesis of two terminal olefins, followed by a stereospecific dihydroxylation. Both steps are catalyzed by Ru, as the Ru complex is converted to a dihydroxylation catalyst upon addition of NaIO₄. A variety of olefins were transformed into valuable, highly functionalized, and stereodefined molecules. Mechanistic experiments were performed to probe the nature of the oxidation step and catalyst inhibition pathways. These experiments point the way to more broadly applicable tandem catalytic transformations.