Metathesis reactions, ring-closure catalyst

While the mechanishc principles were settled some time ago [4], structurally defined, tailored catalysts came along only recently, especially for functionalized olefins. Olefin metathesis, previously a most parameter-sensitive reaction, is no longer restricted to simple olefins, and it am now also be conducted in polar solvents. Ring-opening metathesis (ROMP), aciycHc a,< -diene metathesis (ADMET), ring-closure metathesis (RCM), and just simple metathesis are the main applications. 

An example of the efficient formation of an electron-deficient double bond by RCM was disclosed by a Japanese group in a novel total synthesis of the macrosphelides A (209) and B (208) (Scheme 41) [100]. When the PMB-pro-tected compound 204 was examined as a metathesis substrate, the ring closure did not proceed at all in dichloromethane using catalysts A or C. When the reaction was carried out using equimolar amounts of catalyst C in refluxing 1,2-dichloroethane, the cyclized product 205 was obtained in 65% yield after 5 days. On the other hand, the free allylic alcohol 206 reacted smoothly at room temperature leading to the desired macrocycle 207 in improved yield. 

Considering the facility with which dimerization products 81 and 84 are obtained, we reasoned that, in catalytic ring closure of 77, the derived dimer is perhaps initially formed as well. If the metathesis process is reversible [17b], such adducts may subsequently be converted to the desired macrocycle 76. To examine the validity of this paradigm, diene 77 was dimerized (— 85) by treatment with Ru catalyst lb. When 85 was treated with 22 mol% 2 (after pretreatment with ethylene to ensure formation of the active complex), 50-55% conversion to macrolactam 76 was detected within 7 h by 400 MHz H NMR analysis (Eq. 8). When 76 was subjected to the same reaction conditions, <2% of any of the acyclic products was detected. Although we do not as yet have a positive proof that 85 is formed in cyclization of 77, this observation suggests that if dimerization were to occur, the material can be readily converted to the desired macrolactam, which is kinetically immune to cleavage. 

The aryl radical cyclization has been successfully used for the preparation of substituted dihydrobenzo[Z)]indoline derivatives [59], An example is shown in Reaction (7.49). The diene 42 was preliminarly subjected to ring-closure metathesis using Grubbs catalyst and then treated with (TMS)3SiH and EtsB at -20 °C, in the presence of air, to provide the compound 43 with an excellent diastereoselectivity. 

Carbacephem 69 is obtained in excellent yield by ring-closure of the 1,4-diallyl-P-lactam 68 by a metathesis reaction in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst <99JCS(P1)1695>. Annulated carbacephams 71 is obtained by cyclization of the piperidine 70 in the presence of a 2-chloro-l-methylpyridinium salt <98JOC8170>. 

Ring-closing metathesis, which has proved to be a popular route to the marine toxins, has found a further application as the key step in the synthesis of the pheromone (-)- and ( )-frontalin <99TL1425>. The precursor in this reaction is a mixture of the syn- and anri-isomers 39. Ring closure in the presence of a ruthenium benzylidene catalyst occurs within minutes at room temperature when only the syn-isomer cyclises to 40. The unreacted anri-isomer can be re-equilibrated for a further cyclisation. 

The ruthenium-based metallodendrimer Go-8 was applied as catalyst in a ring-closure metathesis reaction. The activity per metal center of the dendritic catalysts was found to be comparable to that of the corresponding mononuclear catalyst. Unfortunately, the metathesis reaction conditions were not compatible with the nanofiltration membrane set-up used, since a black precipitate was formed in the vessel containing the catalyst. It was found that the conversion to diethyl-3-cyclopentene dicarboxylate product stopped... 

These complexes are suitable for the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of functionalized norbomenes in water,148 as well as ring-closure reactions via ethylene elimination.149 The versatility of these catalysts has given rise to extensive applications in organic synthesis,150151 including, for example, amino acid derivatives.152... 

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