Diene isomerization, ruthenium

Depending on the substrate, the enallenes 213 react with a ruthenium-hydrido catalyst to give either the initial product the methylenecyclopentanes 214 with a 1,4-diene substructure or to the conjugated vinylcyclopentenes 215. The latter are formed by a subsequent ruthenium-catalyzed isomerization of the initial cycization product 214 (Scheme 15.69) [136]. 

Ruthenium complexes B also undergo fast reaction with terminal alkenes, but only slow or no reaction with internal alkenes. Sterically demanding olefins such as, e.g., 3,3-dimethyl-l-butene, or conjugated or cumulated dienes cannot be metathesized with complexes B. These catalysts generally have a higher tendency to form cyclic oligomers from dienes than do molybdenum-based catalysts. With enol ethers and enamines irreversible formation of catalytically inactive complexes occurs [582] (see Section 2.1.9). Isomerization of allyl ethers to enol ethers has been observed with complexes B [582]. 

Functionalized dienes can be obtained by C-C bond formation between 1,3-dienes and alkenes via oxidative coupling with electron-rich ruthenium catalysts but also via insertion into Ru-H and then Ru-C bonds. For example, Ru(COD)(COT) catalyzed the selective codimerization of 1,3-dienes with acrylic compounds to give 3,5-dienoic acid derivatives [18] (Eq. 13). -coordination of 1,3-diene to a hydridoruthenium leads to a 7r-allylruthenium species to selectively give, after coupling with the C=C bond and isomerization, the functionalized conjugated 1,3-dienes. 

The ruthenium-catalyzed cycloisomerization of a variety of <5-enallenes was also achieved, forming cyclic 1,3-dienes or 1,4-dienes depending on the substrates and reaction conditions [32] (Eq. 22). This intramolecular coupling of the C=C bond and allenes can be envisioned by the initial hydrometallation of the allene moiety followed by intramolecular olefin insertion and isomerization. 

The control of alkene geometry in RCM reactions has been an area of intense research and interest since the process was first developed. While a general solution to this challenge has not yet been developed, intriguing observations of E Z control in macrocyclizations continue to be reported. For example, in the course of their studies on the synthesis of herbarumin I and II, Fiirstner and co-workers reported the selective formation of either of the two isomeric alkene products 16 or 17 via RCM of diene 15 <02JA7061> (Scheme 8). The diene 15 was transformed into the -alkene 17 using the ruthenium indenylidene catalyst (Fiirstner Metathesis Catalyst FMC, <01MI4811>) while use of the MC2 led to clean formation of the Z-isomer 16. 

Conjugated dienes can be selectively hydrated to ketones in the presence of cationic ruthenium complexes with bipyridyl ligands. The role of ruthenium is to catalyze the isomerization of allylic alcohols formed by the addition of water to diene. This method allows one to convert butadiene to methyl ethyl ketone in high yield [187]. Hydration of triple bonds is one of the oldest catalytic processes of organic chemistry. Though this reaction has no industrial value, it can serve as a tool of fine organic synthesis. The hydration can be catalyzed by rhodium salts under phase-transfer conditions [188]. The more exotic process of the hydrolysis of phenylacetylene to toluene and carbon monoxide catalyzed by ruthenium complex should also be mentioned [189] ... 

The choice of a,0-dienes is not random. Based on our previous work, it is apparent that most a,(D-dienes are NOT suitable substrates for this reaction 19), The ruthenium catalyst not only catalyzes the insertion of C-C double bonds of a,co-dienes into the ortho C-H bonds of aromatic ketones - but also the isomerization of terminal C-C double bonds to internal double bonds which are much less reactive. 1,3-Divinyltetra-methyldisiloxane and 3,3,6,6-tetramethyl-3,6-disila-l,7-octadiene have been utilized because isomerization of their C-C double bonds is blocked. 

Lee et al. have used a relay metathesis trigger to further enable their studies of metallatropic [l,3]-shifts. For example, both of the relay-activated diene-diynes 98 underwent CM with (Z)-l,4-diacetoxy-2-butene (99) to give ene-diyne 100 (Scheme 9.24) [30]. This process was designed to involve insertion of ruthenium onto the relay subunit in 98 to give 101, followed by rapid migration of [Ru] to the isomeric species 102 and 103 and drainage of the most reactive of these, 103, from the equilibrium manifold by final CM with 99. 

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