Alkyne Metathesis: Catalysts and Synthetic Applications

Synthesis of macrocyclic natural products by catalyst-controlled stereoselective ring-closing metathesis

Many natural products contain a C = C double bond through which various other derivatives can be prepared; the stereochemical identity of the alkene can be critical to the biological activities of such molecules. Catalytic ring-closing metathesis (RCM) is a widely used method for the synthesis of large unsaturated rings; however, cyclizations often proceed without control of alkene stereochemistry. This shortcoming is particularly costly when the cyclization reaction is performed after a long sequence of other chemical transformations. Here we outline a reliable, practical and general approach for the efficient and highly stereoselective synthesis of macrocyclic alkenes by catalytic RCM; transformations deliver up to 97% of the Z isomer owing to control induced by a tungsten-based alkylidene. Utility is demonstrated through the stereoselective preparation of epothilone C (refs 3-5) and nakadomarin A (ref. 6), the previously reported syntheses of which have been marred by late-stage, non-selective RCM. The tungsten alkylidene can be manipulated in air, delivering the products in useful yields with high stereoselectivity. As a result of efficient RCM and re-incorporation of side products into the catalytic cycle with minimal alkene isomerization, desired cyclizations proceed in preference to alternative pathways, even under relatively high substrate concentration.

Total synthesis of (-)-nakadomarin A

A highly diastereoselective bifunctional organocatalyst controlled Michael addition, a nitro-Mannich/lactamization cascade, a furan N-acyliminium cyclisation, a sequential alkyne RCM/syn-reduction and an alkene RCM has allowed a 19 step, highly stereoselective synthesis of (-)-nakadomarin A.

Synthesis of molybdenum nitrido complexes for triple-bond metathesis of alkynes and nitriles

Complexes of the type N≡Mo(OR)(3) (R = tertiary alkyl, tertiary silyl, bulky aryl) have been synthesized in the search for molybdenum-based nitrile-alkyne cross-metathesis (NACM) catalysts. Protonolysis of known N≡Mo(NMe(2))(3) led to the formation of N≡Mo(O-2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3))(3)(NHMe(2)) (12), N≡Mo(OSiPh(3))(3)(NHMe(2)) (5-NHMe(2)), and N≡Mo(OCPh(2)Me)(3)(NHMe(2)) (17-NHMe(2)). The X-ray structure of 12 revealed an NHMe(2) ligand bound cis to the nitrido ligand, while 5-NHMe(2) possessed an NHMe(2) bound trans to the nitride ligand. Consequently, 17-NHMe(2) readily lost its amine ligand to form N≡Mo(OCPh(2)Me)(3) (17), while 12 and 5-NHMe(2) retained their amine ligands in solution. Starting from bulkier tris-anilide complexes, N≡Mo(N[R]Ar)(3) (R = isopropyl, tert-butyl; Ar = 3,5-dimethylphenyl) allowed for the formation of base-free complexes N≡Mo(OSiPh(3))(3) (5) and N≡Mo(OSiPh(2)(t)Bu)(3) (16). Achievement of a NACM cycle requires the nitride complex to react with alkynes to form alkylidyne complexes; therefore the alkyne cross-metathesis (ACM) activity of the complexes was tested. Complex 5 was found to be an efficient catalyst for the ACM of 1-phenyl-1-butyne at room temperature. Complexes 12 and 5-NHMe(2) were also active for ACM at 75 °C, while 17-NHMe(2) and 16 did not show ACM activity. Only 5 proved to be active for the NACM of anisonitrile, which is a reactive substrate in NACM catalyzed by tungsten. NACM with 5 required a reaction temperature of 180 °C in order to initiate the requisite alkylidyne-to-nitride conversion, with slightly more than two turnovers achieved prior to catalyst deactivation. Known molybdenum nitrido complexes were screened for NACM activity under similar conditions, and only N≡Mo(OSiPh(3))(3)(py) (5-py) displayed any trace of NACM activity.

Triazole: a unique building block for the construction of functional materials

Over the past 50 years, numerous roads towards carbon-based materials have been explored, all of them being paved using mainly one functional group as the brick: acetylene. The acetylene group, or the carbon-carbon triple bond, is one of the oldest and simplest functional groups in chemistry, and although not present in any of the naturally occurring carbon allotropes, it is an essential tool to access their synthetic carbon-rich family. In general, two strategies towards the synthesis of π-conjugated carbon-rich structures can be employed: (a) either the acetylene group serves as a building block to access acetylene-derived structures or (b) it serves as a synthetic tool to provide other, usually benzenoid, structures. The recently discovered copper-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction, however, represents a new powerful alternative: it transforms the acetylene group into a five-membered heteroaromatic 1H-1,2,3-triazole (triazole) ring and this gives rise to new opportunities. Compared with all-carbon aromatic non-functional rings, the triazole ring possesses three nitrogen atoms and, thus, can serve as a ligand to coordinate metals, or as a hydrogen bond acceptor and donor. This Feature Article summarises examples of using the triazole ring to construct conjugation- and/or function-related heteroaromatic materials, such as tuneable multichromophoric covalent ensembles, macrocyclic receptors or responsive foldamers. These recent examples, which open a new sub-field within organic materials, started to appear only few years ago and represent "a few more bricks" on the road to carbon-rich functional materials.

From conception to realization: an historial account of graphene and some perspectives for its future

There has been an intense surge in interest in graphene during recent years. However, graphene-like materials derived from graphite oxide were reported in 1962, and related chemical modifications of graphite were described as early as 1840. In this detailed account of the fascinating development of the synthesis and characterization of graphene, we hope to demonstrate that the rich history of graphene chemistry laid the foundation for the exciting research that continues to this day. Important challenges remain, however; many with great technological relevance.

Recent advances in the development of alkyne metathesis catalysts

The number of well-defined molybdenum and tungsten alkylidyne complexes that are able to catalyze alkyne metathesis reactions efficiently has been significantly expanded in recent years.The latest developments in this field featuring highly active imidazolin-2-iminato- and silanolate-alkylidyne complexes are outlined in this review.

Bismuth salts in catalytic alkylation reactions

Alkylation reactions utilizing nontoxic Lewis acid catalysts and "green" alkylating reagents are of high interest due to the continuous need for environmentally benign C-C and C-X bond formation. This article shows recent advances in Bi(III)-catalyzed alkylations of arenes, 2,4-pentanediones and various oxygen- and nitrogen-containing nucleophiles. Instead of toxic alkyl halides, the electrophilic components for these transformations were benzyl and propargyl alcohols as well as substrates with activated double bonds such as styrenes. The fact that Bi(III) salts are capable of activating both σ- and π-donors highlights their unique character as versatile catalysts for catalytic alkylation reactions. In addition, Bi(III) salts are less toxic and cheaper than other Lewis acids that have been described for similar transformations.

Total synthesis of (-)-nakadomarin A

A concise diastereoselective total synthesis of (-)-nakadomarin A has been completed in 21 steps from D-pyroglutamic acid. Key steps include an enecarbamate Michael addition/furan-N-acyliminium ion cascade cyclization to provide the tetracyclic core and ring-closing alkyne and alkene metatheses to construct the fifteen- and eight-membered azacycles, respectively.

Arylethynyl receptors for neutral molecules and anions: emerging applications in cellular imaging

This critical review will focus on the application of shape-persistent receptors for anions that derive their rigidity and optoelectronic properties from the inclusion of arylethynyl linkages. It will highlight a few of the design strategies involved in engineering selective and sensitive fluorescent probes and how arylacetylenes can offer a design pathway to some of the more desirable properties of a selective sensor. Additionally, knowledge gained in the study of these receptors in organic media often leads to improved receptor design and the production of chromogenic and fluorogenic probes capable of detecting specific substrates among the multitude of ions present in biological systems. In this ocean of potential targets exists a large number of geometrically distinct anions, which present their own problems to the design of receptors with complementary binding for each preferred coordination geometry. Our interest in targeting charged substrates, specifically how previous work on receptors for cations or neutral guests can be adapted to anions, will be addressed. Additionally, we will focus on the design and development of supramolecular arylethynyl systems, their shape-persistence and fluorogenic or chromogenic optoelectronic responses to complexation. We will also examine briefly how the "chemistry in the cuvet" translates into biological media (125 references).

Conjugated carbon monolayer membranes: methods for synthesis and integration

Monolayer membranes of conjugated carbon represent a class of nanomaterial with demonstrated uses in various areas of electronics, ranging from transparent, flexible, and stretchable thin film conductors, to semiconducting materials in moderate and high-performance field-effect transistors. Although graphene represents the most prominent example, many other more structurally and chemically diverse systems are also of interest. This article provides a review of demonstrated synthetic and integration strategies, and speculates on future directions for the field.

All-carbon scaffolds by rational design

The search for new molecular and regular polymeric allotropes of carbon has greatly stimulated the preparation and investigation of pi-conjugated acetylenic macrocycles, which often represent substructures of proposed 2D carbon networks. Perethynylated dehydroannulenes, expanded radialenes, and radiaannulenes with large, multi-nanometer-sized all-carbon cores are potent electron acceptors, and their optoelectronic as well as stability and solubility properties are greatly enhanced by peripheral donor substitution. Acetylenic scaffolding into three dimensions has generated an expanded cubane with a C(56) core, the first representative of a new class of "platonic" objects. Exceptional chiroptical properties displayed by enantiomerically pure alleno-acetylenic, shape-persistent macrocycles promise fascinating perspectives for the development of molecular and supramolecular chiroptical materials.

Metathesis of alkanes and related reactions

The transformation of alkanes remains a difficult challenge because of the relative inertness of the C-H and C-C bonds. The rewards for asserting synthetic control over unfunctionalized, saturated hydrocarbons are considerable, however, because converting short alkanes into longer chain analogues is usually a value-adding process. Alkane metathesis is a novel catalytic and direct transformation of two molecules of a given alkane into its lower and higher homologues; moreover, the process proceeds at relatively low temperature (ambient conditions or higher). It was discovered through the use of a silica-supported tantalum hydride, ([triple bond]SiO)(2)TaH, a multifunctional catalyst with a single site of action. This reaction completes the story of the metathesis reactions discovered over the past 40 years: olefin metathesis, alkyne metathesis, and ene-yne cyclizations. In this Account, we examine the fundamental mechanistic aspects of alkane metathesis as well as the novel reactions that have been derived from its study. The silica-supported tantalum hydride catalyst was developed as the result of systematic and meticulous studies of the interaction between oxide supports and organometallic complexes, a field of study denoted surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC). A careful examination of this surface-supported tantalum hydride led to the later discovery of alumina-supported tungsten hydride, W(H)(3)/Al(2)O(3), which proved to be an even better catalyst for alkane metathesis. Supported tantalum and tungsten hydrides are highly unsaturated, electron-deficient species that are very reactive toward the C-H and C-C bonds of alkanes. They show a great versatility in various other reactions, such as cross-metathesis between methane and alkanes, cross-metathesis between toluene and ethane, or even methane nonoxidative coupling. Moreover, tungsten hydride exhibits a specific ability in the transformation of isobutane into 2,3-dimethylbutane as well as in the metathesis of olefins or the selective transformation of ethylene into propylene. Alkane metathesis represents a powerful tool for making progress in a variety of areas, perhaps most notably in the petroleum and petrochemical fields. Modern civilization is currently confronting a host of problems that relate to energy production and its effects on the environment, and judicious application of alkane metathesis to the processing of fuels such as crude oil and natural gas may well afford solutions to these difficulties.

The laulimalide family: total synthesis and biological evaluation of neolaulimalide, isolaulimalide, laulimalide and a nonnatural analogue

We herein describe in full detail the first total synthesis of the antitumor agents neolaulimalide and isolaulimalide as well as a highly efficient route to laulimalide. A Kulinkovich reaction followed by a cyclopropyl-allyl rearrangement is used to install the exo-methylene group. The C(2)-C(16) aldehyde fragment is coupled with the C(17)-C(28) sulfone fragments by a highly (E)-selective Julia-Lythgoe-Kocienski olefination to deliver the key intermediates of all three syntheses. Various conditions for the Yamaguchi macrolactonization are applied to close the individual macrocycles. Finally a carefully elaborated endgame was developed to solve the problem of acyl migration in the case of neolaulimalide. All compounds were tested against several cell lines. The cytotoxicity of neolaulimalide could be confirmed for the first time since its original isolation and it could be shown that it induces tubulin polymerization as efficiently as laulimalide.

Total synthesis and biological evaluation of amphidinolide V and analogues

The awesome power of metathesis is illustrated by a concise synthesis of the extremely scarce marine natural product amphidinolide V, which hinges on a sequence of ring-closing alkyne metathesis followed by intermolecular enyne metathesis with ethylene (see scheme). As a complete set of conceivable stereoisomers was prepared, the constitution and absolute configuration of this macrolide could be established and first insights into structure-activity relationships governing its cytotoxicity were obtained.A sequence of ring-closing alkyne metathesis followed by an intermolecular enyne metathesis of the resulting cycloalkyne with ethene was used to forge the macrocyclic skeleton and to set the vicinal exo-methylene branches characteristic for the cytotoxic marine natural product amphidinolide V (1). Comparison of the synthetic material with an authentic sample of this extremely scarce metabolite isolated from a dinoflagellate of the Amphidinium sp. eliminated any doubts about its structure and allowed the absolute configuration of amphidinolide V to be determined as 8R,9S,10S,13R. Moreover, the flexibility inherent to the underlying synthesis blueprint also opened access to a comprehensive set of diastereomers of 1 as well as to synthetic analogues differing from the natural lead in the lipophilic chains appended to the macrocyclic core. This set of designed analogues gave first insights into structure-activity relationships, which revealed that the stereostructure of the macrolactone is a highly critical parameter, whereas the examined alterations of the side chain did not diminish the cytotoxicity of the compounds to any notable extent.