ADMET

In particular, in silico methods are expected to speed up the drug discovery process, to provide a quicker and cheaper alternative to in vitro tests, and to reduce the number of compounds with unfavorable pharmacological properties at an early stage of drug development. Bad ADMET profiles are a reason for attrition of new drug candidates during the development process [9, 10]. The major reasons for attrition of new drugs are ... 

Prediction of various physicochemical properties such as solubihty, lipophhicity log P, pfQ, number of H-donor and acceptor atoms, number of rotatable bonds, polar surface area), drug-likeness, lead-likeness, and pharmacokinetic properties (ADMET profile). These properties can be applied as a filter in the prescreening step in virtual screening. 

Other filters used for prefiltering account for lead- [22, 23] or drug-likeness [24-26], an appropriate ADMET profile [27-30], or favorable properties concerning receptor binding [31, 32]. 

Historically, drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity ADMET) studies in animal models were performed after the identification of a lead compound. In order to avoid costs, nowadays pharmaceutical companies evaluate the ADMET profiles of potential leads at an earlier stage of the development... 

Another metathesis polymerization procedure uses terminal dienes such as hexa-1,5-diene (16) (acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET)). Here again, the escape of the gaseous reaction product, i.e. ethylene, ensures the irreversible progress of the reaction ... 

Acyclic diene molecules are capable of undergoing intramolecular and intermolec-ular reactions in the presence of certain transition metal catalysts molybdenum alkylidene and ruthenium carbene complexes, for example [50, 51]. The intramolecular reaction, called ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM), affords cyclic compounds, while the intermolecular reaction, called acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization, provides oligomers and polymers. Alteration of the dilution of the reaction mixture can to some extent control the intrinsic competition between RCM and ADMET. 

Figure 7.4-2 Acyclic diene metathesis polymerization (ADMET) reaction carried out in the...

X(A1C13) = 0.5) to immobilize a ruthenium carbene complex for biphasic ADMET polymerization of an acyclic diene ester (Figure 7.4-2). The reaction is an equilibrium processes, and so removal of ethylene drives the equilibrium towards the products. The reaction proceeds readily at ambient temperatures, producing mostly polymeric materials but also 10 % dimeric material. 

As stated above, olefin metathesis is in principle reversible, because all steps of the catalytic cycle are reversible. In preparatively useful transformations, the equilibrium is shifted to one side. This is most commonly achieved by removal of a volatile alkene, mostly ethene, from the reaction mixture. An obvious and well-established way to classify olefin metathesis reactions is depicted in Scheme 2. Depending on the structure of the olefin, metathesis may occur either inter- or intramolecularly. Intermolecular metathesis of two alkenes is called cross metathesis (CM) (if the two alkenes are identical, as in the case of the Phillips triolefin process, the term self metathesis is sometimes used). The intermolecular metathesis of an a,co-diene leads to polymeric structures and ethene this mode of metathesis is called acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET). Intramolecular metathesis of these substrates gives cycloalkenes and ethene (ring-closing metathesis, RCM) the reverse reaction is the cleavage of a cyclo-... 

Scheme 2 Different modes of the olefin metathesis reaction cross metathesis (CM), ringclosing metathesis (RCM), ring-opening metathesis (ROM), acyclic diene metathesis polymerization (ADMET), and ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP)...

We will focus on the development of ruthenium-based metathesis precatalysts with enhanced activity and applications to the metathesis of alkenes with nonstandard electronic properties. In the class of molybdenum complexes [7a,g,h] recent research was mainly directed to the development of homochi-ral precatalysts for enantioselective olefin metathesis. This aspect has recently been covered by Schrock and Hoveyda in a short review and will not be discussed here [8h]. In addition, several important special topics have recently been addressed by excellent reviews, e.g., the synthesis of medium-sized rings by RCM [8a], applications of olefin metathesis to carbohydrate chemistry [8b], cross metathesis [8c,d],enyne metathesis [8e,f], ring-rearrangement metathesis [8g], enantioselective metathesis [8h], and applications of metathesis in polymer chemistry (ADMET,ROMP) [8i,j]. Application of olefin metathesis to the total synthesis of complex natural products is covered in the contribution by Mulzer et al. in this volume. 

Nearly all of the polymers produced by step-growth polymerization contain heteroatoms and/or aromatic rings in the backbone. One exception is polymers produced from acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization.22 Hydrocarbon polymers with carbon-carbon double bonds are readily produced using ADMET polymerization techniques. Polyesters, polycarbonates, polyamides, and polyurethanes can be produced from aliphatic monomers with appropriate functional groups (Fig. 1.1). In these aliphatic polymers, the concentration of the linking groups (ester, carbonate, amide, or urethane) in the backbone greatly influences the physical properties. 

K. B. Wagener and T. A. Davidson, Non-Conjugated and Conjugated Dienes in Acrylic Diene Metathesis (ADMET) Chemistry, in New Macromolecular Architecture and Functions. Proceedings OUMS 95, M. Kamachi and A. Nakamura (Eds.), Springer Verlag, New York, 1996. 

Olefin metathesis, an expression coined by Calderon in 1967,1 has been accurately described in Ivin and Mol s seminal text Olefin Metathesis and Metathesis Polymerization as the (apparent) interchange of carbon atoms between a pair of double bonds (ref. 2, p. 1). This remarkable conversion can be divided into three types of reactions, as illustrated in Fig. 8.1. These reactions have been used extensively in the synthesis of a broad range of both macromolecules and small molecules3 this chapter focuses on acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization as a versatile route for the production of a wide range of functionalized polymers. 

These limitations were overcome with the introduction of the well-defined, single-component tungsten and molybdenum (14) alkylidenes in 1990. (Fig. 8.4).7 Schrock s discoveiy revolutionized the metathesis field and vastly increased die utility of this reaction. The Schrock alkylidenes are particularly reactive species, have no side reactions, and are quite effective as polymerization catalysts for both ROMP and ADMET. Due to the oxophilicity of molybdenum, these alkylidenes are moisture and air sensitive, so all reactions using these catalysts must be performed under anaerobic conditions, requiring Schlenk and/or glovebox techniques. 

Figure 8.3 Wagener s ADMET of 1,9-decadiene using Schrock s [W] catalyst.

ADMET of av j-dicncs has been a focus of research in the Wagener laboratories for many years now, where we have studied this chemistry to explore its viability in synthesizing polymers possessing both precisely designed microstructures as well as a variety of functionalities. The requirements for this reaction, such as steric and electronic factors, functionalities allowed, appropriate choice of catalyst, and necessary length or structure of the diene, have been examined.3,12-14 A detailed discussion will be presented later in this chapter with a brief synopsis of general rules for successful ADMET polymerization presented here. 

Shorter chain dienes have an increased propensity to form stable five-, six-, and seven-membered rings. This thermodynamically controlled phenomenon is known as the Thorpe-Ingold effect.15 Since ADMET polymerization is performed over extended time periods under equilibrium conditions, it is ultimately thermodynamics rather than kinetics that determine the choice between a selected diene monomer undergoing either polycondensation or cyclization. 

ADMET is quite possibly the most flexible transition-metal-catalyzed polymerization route known to date. With the introduction of new, functionality-tolerant robust catalysts, the primary limitation of this chemistry involves the synthesis and cost of the diene monomer that is used. ADMET gives the chemist a powerful tool for the synthesis of polymers not easily accessible via other means, and in this chapter, we designate the key elements of ADMET. We detail the synthetic techniques required to perform this reaction and discuss the wide range of properties observed from the variety of polymers that can be synthesized. For example, branched and functionalized polymers produced by this route provide excellent models (after quantitative hydrogenation) for the study of many large-volume commercial copolymers, and the synthesis of reactive carbosilane polymers provides a flexible route to solvent-resistant elastomers with variable properties. Telechelic oligomers can also be made which offer an excellent means for polymer modification or incorporation into block copolymers. All of these examples illustrate the versatility of ADMET. 

At this point it is appropriate to discuss the mechanism for ADMET, because ADMET polymerization is more involved than its chain polymerization counterpart— ROMP. Figure 8.6 illustrates the accepted mechanistic pathway which leads to productive metathesis polymerization, as first described by Wagener et al.14a A general model reaction between an a,o>-diene with a metal alkylidene... 

Figure 8.5 Sample of polymers produced by ADMET in Wagener group.

The ADMET cycle involves the formation of two metallacyclobutane intermediates [D, F], whereas the ROMP mechanism contains only one. 

As is die case for odier polycondensation reactions, internal interchange reactions are possible for ADMET, similar to diat of polyesters and polyamides.16 Interchange reactions involve a catalyst molecule on a polymer chain end reacting widi an internal double bond in another polymer chain. The result is two new polymer chains however, no change in the molecular weight distribution... 

Another factor in step-growth polymerizations is cyclization versus linear polymerization.1516 Since ADMET is a step-growth polymerization, most reactions are carried out in the bulk using high concentrations of the reactant in order to suppress most cyclic formation. A small percentage of cyclic species is always present but is dependent upon thermodynamic factors, typical of any polycondensation reaction. 

The obviation of side reactions is essential to the success of ADMET, and this can be realized if the proper catalyst is chosen. Catalyst choice must avoid the possibility of cation formation,13 vinyl addition, and/or formation of multiple catalytic species, all of which are detrimental to clean metathesis chemistry. Over the past 10 years, our group has utilized a variety of different catalysts, several of which are illustrated in Fig. 8.4. 

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