Cross metathesis approach to retinoids and other β-apocarotenoids

Cross metathesis (CM) reactions between polyenes, such as β-carotene, canthaxanthin or retinyl acetate, and various alkenes or dienes in the presence of second generation Hoveyda-Grubbs (H II) or Grubbs (G II) catalysts were investigated. Depending on the cross partner different apocarotenoids were obtained. Cross metathesis reactions of retinyl acetate proved to be fully regioselective. Carotenoid CM reactions afforded mixtures of two products due to competing cleavage of the C11-C12 and C15-C15′ double bonds. However, regioselectivity can be controlled by choice of appropriate reaction conditions. The reactions of polyenes with dienes worked better in respect of yields and diastereoselectivities than those with monounsaturated cross partners.     

Cross‐metathesis of C‐Glycosides and Peptides

Peptides bearing an acryloyl residue at their N‐terminus were coupled with various C‐glycosides in an equimolar ratio via cross‐metathesis. The newly formed olefin was obtained with high E/Z selectivity in satisfying to high yields with low homodimerization of the starting materials. The posttranslational cross‐metathesis approach was shown to be suitable for the combinatorial synthesis of a small library of C‐glycopeptides.     

Intramolecular σ-bond metathesis between carbon-carbon and silicon-silicon bonds

An intramolecular σ-bond metathesis between carbon-carbon and silicon-silicon bonds took place on treatment of a disilane tethered to a cyclobutanone with a palladium(0) catalyst, furnishing a silaindane skeleton as well as an acylsilane functionality at once.     

Ionic CNT-supported Ru–carbene complex for recyclable ring-closing metathesis

The ionic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (IM-f-MWCNTs), which were covalently functionalized with imidazolium salt, have been utilized as support materials for the immobilization of Hoveyda-type Ru–carbene complex. The catalytic activity and recyclability of the ionic CNT-supported Ru–carbene complexes have been investigated for ring-closing metathesis of various dienes, and the recovered catalyst can be reused up to 10 times without any significant loss of catalytic activity.     

Synthesis of optically active medium-sized α-aminolactams via ring-closing metathesis

The synthesis of optically active medium-sized α-aminolactams via ring-closing metathesis is described. The amidation of optically active N-Boc-allylglycine derivatives with N-protected alkenylamine, and ring-closing metathesis resulted in the formation of medium-sized α-aminolactams with good yield.     

Hydroxymethylated cyclic α-amino acid dipeptides by ruthenium ring closing metathesis

Stereoselective syntheses of cyclic α-amino-β-hydroxymethylcyclohexene-α-carboxylic acids are described. The acids were isolated as dipeptides. RCM reactions were effected by Ru(II)-catalysis on hydroxymethylated dienes. The diene substrates were available in stereochemically pure form by stepwise alkylations of (R)-2,5-dihydro-3,6-dimethoxy-2-isopropylpyrazine with 4-bromo-1-butene and vinyloxirane.     

Isomerization and functionalization of 2:1 Diels–Alder adducts of cyclopentadiene and p-benzoquinone: Applications to polycycles via ring-closing metathesis and ring-opening metathesis as key steps

Five stereochemically different 2:1 Diels–Alder adducts were prepared starting with cyclopentadiene and p-benzoquinone. Separately, these adducts were treated with an excess amount of base and allyl bromide to deliver two different tetra-allylated products. These allyl derivatives gave the corresponding mono-propellane derivatives on metathesis sequence. Five Diels–Alder adducts on treatment with Grubbs ruthenium catalysts delivered the corresponding mono- and di-ring-opened metathesis products. Structures of three functionalized adducts were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Ruthenium carbenes as catalysts in stereoselective ene–yne metathesis/Diels–Alder and ene–yne metathesis/Diels–Alder/cross coupling multicomponent reactions

An ene–yne cross metathesis of silyl substituted alkynes and alkenes followed by a Diels–Alder reaction of the metathesis product 2-silyl-1,3-dienes has been developed. The dienes thus prepared in situ were shown to participate in highly diastereoselective Diels–Alder reactions. In one case the silicon substituted Diels–Alder cycloadduct was subsequently used without isolation and purification in a Hiyama cross coupling reaction. The cross coupling reactions enable these silicon dienes to be used as synthons for a variety of other dienes.     

What is the initiation step of the Grubbs-Hoveyda olefin metathesis catalyst?

Density function theory calculations reveal that the Grubbs-Hoveyda olefin metathesis pre-catalyst is activated by the formation of a complex in which the incoming alkene substrate and outgoing alkoxy ligand are both clearly associated with the ruthenium centre. The computed energies for reaction are in good agreement with the experimental values, reported here.     

A ring-closing metathesis approach for the synthesis of (±)-pregabalin

Abstract  

Efficient utilization of a Mannich-type reaction and the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) approach that leads to a convenient synthesis of 3-(aminomethyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid (pregabalin) is described.     

A ring-closing metathesis (RCM)-based approach to mycolactones A/B

The total synthesis of the mycobacterial toxins mycolactones A/B ( 1 a / b ) has been accomplished based on a strategy built around the construction of the mycolactone core through ring‐closing metathesis. By employing the Grubbs second‐generation catalyst, the 12‐membered core macrocycle of mycolactones, with a functionalized C2 handle attached to C11, was obtained in 60–80 % yield. The C‐linked upper side chain (comprising C12–C20) was completed by a highly efficient modified Suzuki coupling between C13 and C14, while the attachment of the C5‐O‐linked polyunsaturated acyl side chain was achieved by Yamaguchi esterification. Surprisingly, a diene containing a simple isopropyl group attached to C11 could not be induced to undergo ring‐closing metathesis. By employing fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry techniques, the synthetic mycolactones A/B ( 1 a / b ) were demonstrated to display similar apoptosis‐inducing and cytopathic effects as mycolactones A/B extracted from Mycobacterium ulcerans. In contrast, a simplified analogue with truncated upper and lower side chains was found to be inactive.     

DOSY-NMR analysis of ring-closing metathesis (RCM) products from β-lactam precursors

The discrimination between cyclomonomers and various oligomers formed during a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) process is not an easy task. Their (1)H NMR patterns are often very similar, and the use of mass spectrometry techniques is usually recommended. Here, we show that the DOSY-NMR method is a reliable tool to help in the identification of cyclomonomers versus cyclodimers by comparing the translational diffusion coefficient of the compounds issued from RCM reactions with the diffusion coefficient of their respective precursors.     

Ring expansion reactions of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate and benzosilacyclobutenes: formal σ bond cross metathesis

The ring expansion reaction of ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate (1) with benzosilacyclobutenes proceeded smoothly in the presence of Ni(cod)₂-TOPP (tribiphenyl-2-yl phosphite) to give benzosilacycloheptenes in good yields. This formal σ bond metathesis reaction proceeded in a selective manner. The Ni-catalyzed reaction of 1 with biphenylenes was also examined.     

Cross metathesis of β-carotene with electron-deficient dienes. A direct route to retinoids

Cross metathesis (CM) reactions of β-carotene and alkenes occur regioselectively in the presence of the Hoveyda second generation catalyst. Scission of the C15-C15′ and C11-C12 bonds of β-carotene in all CM reactions predominates. The reaction with ethyl (2E,4E/Z)-3-methylhexa-2,4-dienoate is both regio- and diastereoselective, and affords ethyl all-trans-retinoate as the major product, if suitable CM conditions are applied.     

Ring-closing metathesis and palladium-catalyzed formate reduction to 3-methyleneoxepanes. Formal synthesis of (−)-zoapatanol

A sequence of ring-closing metathesis and palladium-catalyzed formate reduction was developed for preparing O-heterocycles with an exocyclic olefin and applied to the asymmetric synthesis of zoapatanol. The key vicinal stereocenters in zoapatanol were constructed from the l-malic acid-derived lactone by successive chelation-controlled addition of alkyl groups. The O-allylations to prepare the dienes for RCM were achieved with the tertiary alcohols bearing internal olefins. The ring opening of oxepane, a new reaction pathway for the Pd-formate reduction, is also reported.     

‘Pincer’ pyridyl- and bipyridyl-N-heterocyclic carbene analogues of the Grubbs’ metathesis catalyst

The ‘pincer’ pyridine-dicarbene and bipyridyl-carbene ruthenium benzylidene complexes, Ru(C–N–C)Cl₂(CHPh) and Ru(C–N–N)Cl₂(CHPh), (C–N–C) = 2,6-bis(DiPP-imidazol-2-ylidene)pyridine, (C–N–N) = (DiPP-imidazol-2-ylidene)bipyridine, have been prepared and characterised by spectroscopic and diffraction methods. They exhibit moderate metathesis activity. Non-symmetrical linear tridentate ether-functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene pro-ligands are also described.     

One-pot enyne ring-closing metathesis–Diels–Alder reactions for the synthesis of polycyclic sulfamides

Ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and sequential Yb(OTf)₃ promoted Diels–Alder reactions of sulfamide-linked enynes proceeded selectively in one-pot to afford a series of bicyclic and tricyclic sulfamides. Excellent levels of diastereoselectivity are observed for the cycloaddition step, with only the endo-adducts being isolated. The protocol was further extended to incorporate a one-pot RCM–cross metathesis (CM)–Diels–Alder sequence, permitting rapid access to high levels of molecular complexity from simple and easily accessible precursors.     

Understanding d(0)-olefin metathesis catalysts: which metal, which ligands?

Density functional theory (DFT, B3PW91) calculations have been carried out on the reactivity of ethene with model systems M(NR)(=CHCH3)(X)(Y) for M = Mo or W, R = methyl or phenyl, X = CH2CH3, OCH3, or OSiH3, and Y = CH2CH3, OCH3, or OSiH3, which are representative of experimental olefin metathesis catalysts, and the results are compared to those previously obtained for Re(CCH3)(=CHCH3)(X)(Y). The general pathway comprises four steps: olefin coordination, [2+2] cycloaddition, cycloreversion, and olefin de-coordination. Two key factors have been found to control the detailed shape of the energy profiles: the energy of distortion of the tetrahedral catalyst and the stability of the metallacycle intermediate, which is controlled by the M-C bond strength. The efficiency has been evaluated by calculating the turnover frequency (TOF) based on the steady-state approximation, and the most striking feature is that the unsymmetrical catalysts (X not equal to Y) are systematically more efficient for all systems (Mo, W, and Re). Overall, the Re complexes have been found to be less efficient than the Mo and W catalysts, except when Re is unsymmetrically substituted: it is then calculated to be as efficient as the best Mo and W catalysts.     

Ring-closing metathesis within chromium-coordination sphere: Facile access to phosphine-chelate (π-arene)chromium complexes

A variety of phosphine-chelate (π-arene)chromium complexes were prepared in good to excellent yields by the ring-closing metathesis reaction of [η⁶-(ω-alkenyl)benzene][(ω-alkenyl)phosphine]chromium(0) dicarbonyl complexes catalyzed by the Grubbs’ ruthenium-carbene complexes.