Synthesis of 1,3-cyclohexadienes by tandem diene-alkyne metathesis: improved procedure

A practical synthesis of 2-substituted 1,3-cyclohexadienes by the cross enyne metathesis between alkynes and 1,5-hexadiene is reported. The isolation of the 1,3-cyclohexadienes has been hampered by the formation of an inseparable triene by-product. The use of a second consecutive cross alkene metathesis to give water-soluble products allowed removal of this by-product. Using this one-pot procedure, a synthesis of cyclohexadienes from simple starting materials was developed. The procedure was used in a three-step synthesis of a functionalized tetrahydroquinoline using Pd(II)-catalyzed chloroacetoxylation (Bäckvall reaction) for cyclohexadiene functionalization.