Cross-Coupling of 1,3-Diene

Catalyzed oligomerization and co-oligomerization of conjugated dienes have been performed with a wide range of transition-metal complexes. Catalytic cyclodimerizations of conjugated dienes have also been performed selectively [27]. Thus, a catalytic amount of CpRuCl(diene) and Ag(0S02CF3) led to the formation of 1,5-cyclooctadiene, dimethylcyclooctadienes, and 6-methyl- 

7-nonatriene from butadiene, isoprene, or 1,3-pentadiene, respectively (Eq. 18). 

The mechanism of the homocoupling of dienes is one of the representative reactions proceeding through a n-allylruthenium intermediate. Indeed, a bis 7r-allylruthenium complex was produced by oxidative cyclization of two dienes and the coupling of the terminal carbon atoms led to a cationic (diene) (allyl)hydridoruthenium species. 

The synthesis of unsaturated compounds by C-C bond formation can also be carried out by coupling of alkenes with allenes, intermolecularly or intra-molecularly. Thus, 1,3-dienes were selectively obtained by coupling of allenes and vinyl ketones [28-30]. The reaction was catalyzed by the complex CpRuCl(COD) and with CeCl3 as a cocatalyst (Eq. 19). This cocatalyst is expected to decrease the chloride ion concentration to keep the active cationic ruthenium complex coordinatively unsaturated. 

A ruthenacyclopentane 48 has been proposed as an intermediate in this reaction, after coordination of the allene and enone. Exocyclic /1-hydride elimination led to the 1,3-dienes. This ruthenacycle possessed a o-bound ruthenium allyl, allowing nucleophilic additions by alcohols or amines. Alkylative cycloetherification [29] (Eq. 20) and synthesis of pyrrolidine and piperidine [30] were thus achieved. 

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