Metathesis cascade cyclotrimerization

In addition to 6, different ruthenium complexes have been investigated as catalysts for alkyne cyclotrimerizations and cyclocotrimerization of alkynes with nitriles. Among them, Grubbs-type carbene complexes are of particular importance since they catalyze inter- and intramolecular metathesis-cascade cyclotrimerizations under mild conditions. In addition, they have good tolerance toward a variety of functional groups. 

Fully intramolecular [2 + 2 + 2] cyclization of triynes affords tricyclic products with complete chemo- and regioselectivity. Despite this advantage, this method is underdeveloped, which is probably due to the diminished accessibility of the triyne substrates. Peters and Blechert reported the first ruthenium-catalyzed fully intramolecular cyclotrimerization using the metathesis cascade strategy with Grubbs catalyst [23]. Later, Yamamoto et al. demonstrated that complex 6 efficiently catalyzes the cyclization of various triynes [14]. Examples of 1,6,11-triyne cyclization are summarized in Table 3.11. As an example, diether 58 (X = = O, R = H) underwent [2 + 2 + 2]... 

PhCH2=Ru(PCy3)2Cl2 catalyses the cyclooligomerization of trienes (143) to benzene derivatives (144) via a cascade of four metathesis reactions (Scheme 54).273 Isocyanate cyclotrimerization catalysed by dimethylbenzylamme-phenyl glycidyl ether-phenol has been studied by IR and PMR spectroscopy.274... 

Intramolecular [2+2+2] cyclotrimerizations of diynes and triynes possessing heteroatom tethers furnish benzoheterocycles. The cyclization of triynes 88 using the Grubbs catalyst 76 proceeds via cascade metathesis as shown in Eq. (35) to yield a tricyclic product 89 [88]. This novel type of catalytic alkyne cyclotrimerization can be applied to the cycloaddition of 1,6-diynes with monoalkynes [89]. 

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