Regioselectivity in the formation of small- and medium-sized cyclic ethers by diene-ene ring-closing metathesis

In the formation of medium-sized ethers by diene-ene ring-closing metathesis, the formation of cyclic allyl ethers with a smaller ring size and of pentadienyl ethers with a larger ring size compete with each other. In the competition between six- and eight-membered and seven- and nine-membered ring formation, the smaller rings are formed exclusively, whereas in the competition between the five- and seven-membered rings, both products are formed in comparable amounts.