Reactions of aromatic S- and O-enynes with two methyl substituents on the olefinic unit assisted by a ruthenium complex: tandem cyclization and product selectivity

A Metallabicycle From Thiocarbonyl-Cyclopropenium Coupling

Addition of triphenylcyclopropenium bromide to the thiocarbonyl complex [RhCl(CS)(PPh3 )2 ] affords novel bicyclic metalla-3-mercapto-thiapyrylliums [Rh(κ2 -C,S-C5 S2 Ph3 )(PPh3 )2 X2 ] (X=Cl, Br) - heterocycles with no metal-free isolobal precedent. Halide abstraction with silver triflate (AgOTf) in acetonitrile affords the salt [Rh(κ2 -C,S-C5 S2 Ph3 )(NCMe)2 (PPh3 )2 {Ag(OH2 )2 }{Ag(OTf)3 }]-OTf which in turn reacts with sodium chloride to return [Rh(κ2 -C,S-C5 S2 Ph3 )(PPh3 )2 Cl2 ].

Construction of 6H-benzo[c]thiochromenes via a tandem reaction of arynes with thionoesters

A mild and transition-metal free method has been proposed for the synthesis of 6H-benzo[c]thiochromenes via the tandem reactions of arynes with thionoesters.

Conventional and unconventional alkyne activations by Ru and Os for unprecedented dimetalated quinolizinium complexes

Two types of unexpected quinolizinium complexes were obtained from the reactions between pyridine-functionalized propargylic alcohol HC[triple bond, length as m-dash]CC(OH)(Ph)(CH₂(2-py)) (L1) and cis-[M(L^L)₂Cl₂] (M = Ru, Os; L^L = 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm), 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy)). Their molecular structures revealed that L1 can be activated by Ru and Os via the conventional "vinylidene-involving" or unconventional "non-vinylidene-involving" pathways.

Ruthenium-Induced Cyclization of Heteroatom-Functionalized Alkynes: Progress, Challenges and Perspectives

Metal-induced cyclization of functionalized alkynes represents one of the most general approaches to prepare organic heterocycles. Although Ru^II centers are well-established to promote alkyne to vinylidene rearrangements and many Ru^II -mediated alkyne cyclizations have been rationalized to be the results of post-vinylidene transformations, recent discoveries indicate that Ru^II centers can serve as electrophiles and induce alkyne cyclizations without vinylidene intermediacy. In this Minireview, an overview of the Ru^II -induced cyclization of heteroatom-functionalized alkynes in the last decade is provided, with an emphasis on the discoveries and validations of the unconventional "non-vinylidene-involving" pathways.

Cyclization Reactions of Aryl Propargyl Acetates with Tethered Epoxide Induced by Ruthenium Complex

Reactions of the ruthenium complex [Ru]Cl ([Ru]=Cp(PPh₃ )₂ Ru; Cp=η⁵ -C₅ H₅ ) with several aryl propargyl acetates, each with an ortho-substituted chain of various length containing an epoxide on the aromatic ring and with or without methyl substitutents on the epoxide ring, bring about novel cyclizations. The cyclization reactions of HC≡CCH(OAc)(C₆ H₄ )CH₂ (RC₂ H₂ O) (R=H, 6 a; R=CH₃ , 6 b, where RC₂ H₂ O is an epoxide ring) in MeOH give the vinylidene complexes 5 a-b, respectively, each with the Cβ integrated into a tetrahydro-5H-benzo[7]annulen-6-ol ring. A C-C bond formation takes place between the propargyl acetate and the less substituted carbon of the epoxide ring. Further cyclizations of 5 a-b induced by HBF₄ give the corresponding vinylidene complexes 8 a-b each with a new 8-oxabicyclo-[3.2.1]octane ring by removal of a methanol molecule in high yield. For similar aryl propargyl acetates with a shorter epoxide chain, the cyclization gives a mixture of a vinylidene complex with a tetrahydronaphthalen-1-ol ring and a carbene complex with a tricyclic indeno-furan ring. For the cyclization of 18, with a longer epoxide chain, opening of the epoxide is required to afford the vicinal bromohydrin 22, then tandem cyclization occurs in one pot. Products are characterized by spectroscopic methods as well as by XRD analysis.

Reactions of Ruthenium Complexes Containing Pentatetraenylidene Ligand

Two ruthenium acetylide complexes [Ru]-C≡C-C≡C-C(OR)(C₃ H₅ )₂ (2, R=H and 2 a, R=CH₃ ; [Ru]=Cp(PPh₃ )₂ Ru) each with two cyclopropyl rings were synthesized from TMS-C≡C-C≡C-C(OH)(C₃ H₅ )₂ (1; TMS=trimethylsilyl). Treatments of 2 and 2 a with allyl halide in the presence of KPF₆ afforded the vinylidene complexes 3 and 3 a, respectively. When NH₄ PF₆ was used, instead of KPF₆ , additional ring-opening reaction took place on one of the three-membered ring. Treatment of [Ru]Cl with 1,3-butadiyne (6), bearing an epoxide ring, afforded acetylide complex 7 with a furyl ring. Treatment of 2 a with Ph₃ CPF₆ presumably afforded pentatetraenylidene complex {[Ru]=C=C=C=C=C(C₃ H₅ )₂ }[PF₆ ] (10), which was not isolated. Additions of various alcohols in a solution of 10 generated a number of disubstituted allenylidene complexes {[Ru]=C=C=C(OR)-C=C(C₃ H₅ )₂ }[PF₆ ] (11). Treatment of 11 with K₂ CO₃ afforded the acetylide complex 12 bearing a carbonyl group, characterized by single X-ray diffraction analysis. Addition of a primary amine to 10 caused cleavage of the farthermost C=C bond and several allenylidene complexes {[Ru]=C=C=C(Me)(NHR)}[PF₆ ] (18) were isolated.