Grubbs bond

Since the first reports on olefin metathesis in the 1960s [88, 89], this elementary C-C bond forming reaction has sparked an enormous activity in organometalhc research, culminating in the award of the Nobel Prize to Yves Chauvin, Richard Schrock and Robert Grubbs in 2005. 

Olefin-metathesis is a useful tool for the formation of unsaturated C-C bonds in organic synthesis.186 The most widely used catalysts for olefin metathesis include alkoxyl imido molybdenum complex (Schrock catalyst)187 and benzylidene ruthenium complex (Grubbs catalyst).188 The former is air- and moisture-sensitive and has some other drawbacks such as intolerance to many functional groups and impurities the latter has increased tolerance to water and many reactions have been used in aqueous solution without any loss of catalytic efficiency. 

A similar strategy served to carry out the last step of an asymmetric synthesis of the alkaloid (—)-cryptopleurine 12. Compound 331, prepared from the known chiral starting material (l )-( )-4-(tributylstannyl)but-3-en-2-ol, underwent cross-metathesis to 332 in the presence of Grubbs second-generation catalyst. Catalytic hydrogenation of the double bond in 332 with simultaneous N-deprotection, followed by acetate saponification and cyclization under Mitsunobu conditions, gave the piperidine derivative 333, which was transformed into (—)-cryptopleurine by reaction with formaldehyde in the presence of acid (Scheme 73) <2004JOC3144>. 

The synthesis of the /V-protected 7-methylazepine derivative 34 was achieved in 89% yield by a ring-closing metathesis reaction on 33 mediated by Grubbs I ruthenium catalyst. This azepine was an important precursor for the preparation, via epoxidation of the double bond, of a number of 7-methylazepanone derivatives for evaluation as cathepsin K inhibitors <06JMC1597>. 

By performing excellent model reactions [144], Grubbs and his co-workers demonstrated direct olefin insertion into an M-C bond. Thus, complex 115 was treated with AlEtCl2 to give complex 116, whose decomposition afforded methylcyclopentane. Under the same conditions, the polymerization of ethylene took place. In this way, the insertion of a-olefins into a Ti-C single bond in a model Ziegler-Natta catalyst system was directly observed (Eq. 9). 

The ruthenium carbene catalysts 1 developed by Grubbs are distinguished by an exceptional tolerance towards polar functional groups [3]. Although generalizations are difficult and further experimental data are necessary in order to obtain a fully comprehensive picture, some trends may be deduced from the literature reports. Thus, many examples indicate that ethers, silyl ethers, acetals, esters, amides, carbamates, sulfonamides, silanes and various heterocyclic entities do not disturb. Moreover, ketones and even aldehyde functions are compatible, in contrast to reactions catalyzed by the molybdenum alkylidene complex 24 which is known to react with these groups under certain conditions [26]. Even unprotected alcohols and free carboxylic acids seem to be tolerated by 1. It should also be emphasized that the sensitivity of 1 toward the substitution pattern of alkenes outlined above usually leaves pre-existing di-, tri- and tetrasubstituted double bonds in the substrates unaffected. A nice example that illustrates many of these features is the clean dimerization of FK-506 45 to compound 46 reported by Schreiber et al. (Scheme 12) [27]. 

The chemistry described in this review article demonstrates the impressive positive influence that catalytic RCM has had on our research in connection to the development of other catalytic and enantioselective C-C bond forming reactions. There is no doubt that in the absence of pioneering work by Schrock and Grubbs, the Zr-catalyzed alkylation and kinetic resolution would be of less utility in synthesis. The number of unsaturated heterocyclic and carbocyclic substrates available for Zr-catalyzed asymmetric carbomagnesation would be far more limited without catalytic RCM. 

Hydroxylation of the terminal double bond in 140 followed by the esterification paved the way to phosphodiester 141, whereas Grubbs olefin metathesis followed by hydroxylation and esterification led to divalent phosphodiester 142. 

Polymers Catalytic reactions involving C=C bonds are widely used for the conversion of unsaturated fatty compounds to prepare useful monomers for polymer synthesis. Catalytic C-C coupling reactions of unsaturated fatty compounds have been reviewed by Biermann and Metzger [51]. Metathesis reactions involving unsaturated fatty compounds to prepare co-unsaturated fatty acid esters have been applied by Warwel et al. [52], Ethenolysis of methyl oleate catalyzed by ruthenium carbenes developed by Grubb yields 1-decene and methyl 9-decenoate (Scheme 3.6), which can be very useful to prepare monomers for polyolefins, polyesters, polyethers and polyamide such as Nylon 11. 

For a recent review of the through-bonds versus through-space controversy, see J. Shorter, in Reference 76, especially pp. 117-120. See also K. Bowden and E. J. Grubbs, Prog. Phys. Org. Chem., 19, 183 (1993) O. Exner and Z. Friedl, Prog. Phys. Org. Chem., 19, 259 (1993). 

Other closely related ruthenium-allenylidene were made and evaluated in alkene metathesis [32]. Werner et al. [49] also produced allenylidene complexes of analogous structure to that of the Grubbs catalyst, but containing hemilabile phosphine such as complex X (Scheme 8.9). However, the Ru—O bond may be too stable to initiate the rearrangement into indenylidene, the coordination of alkene and to become a catalyst. 

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