Passerini/ring-closing metathesis

In a more recent approach, the same group synthesized macrocycles using a Passerini reaction followed by a ring-closing metathesis [23], but the final cycliza-tion gave only low yields. 

Ring-closing metathesis seems particularly well suited to be combined with Passerini and Ugi reactions, due to the low reactivity of the needed additional olefin functions, which avoid any interference with the MCR reaction. However, some limitations are present. First of all, it is not easy to embed diversity into the two olefinic components, because this leads in most cases to chiral substrates whose obtainment in enantiomerically pure form may not be trivial. Second, some unsaturated substrates, such as enamines, acrolein and p,y-unsaturated aldehydes cannot be used as component for the IMCR, whereas a,p-unsaturated amides are not ideal for RCM processes. Finally, the introduction of the double bond into the isocyanide component is possible only if 9-membered or larger rings are to be synthesized (see below). The smallest ring that has been synthesized to date is the 6-membered one represented by dihydropyridones 167, obtained starting with allylamine and bute-noic acid [133] (Fig. 33). Note that, for the reasons explained earlier, compounds... 

A. Schwablein, J. Martens, Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2011,4335-4344. First synthesis of a,P-unsatmated lactones with high diversity through the Passerini reaction and ring-closing metathesis (RCM). 

Complex molecules have also been synthesized by sequential use of the orga-nocatalytic a-amination of aldehydes by azodicarboxylates catalyzed by some of the systems shown above and by other reaction processes, such as the Passerini reaction [40], Homer-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination [41], Wittig olefination [42], and allylation reaction followed by a ring-closing metathesis [43], In addition, the combination of catalysts in cycle-specific organocascade processes [44] has allowed the synthesis of chiral complex molecules with good results. 

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