Why is RCM Favoured Over Dimerisation? Predicting and Estimating Thermodynamic Effective Molarities by Solution Experiments and Electronic Structure Calculations

Exploiting the vicinal disubstituent effect on the diastereoselective synthesis of γ and δ lactones

Trifluoroacetic acid catalysed lactonization of vicinal disubstituted γ-hydroxyesters was investigated in different solvents. The reaction kinetics, monitored by NMR spectroscopy, showed that: (i) the vic-disubstituent effect is stereoselective since the anti diastereoisomer ring closes substantially more rapidly than the syn isomer ring; (ii) the anti-vic effect is much stronger than the classical Thorpe-Ingold effect (known also as the gem-disubstituent effect), instead the syn diastereoisomers have rate constants comparable to that of the gem-disubstituted ester; (iii) the vic-effect can be enhanced by increasing the steric hindrance of one of the two substituents or carrying out the reaction in non-polar solvents. DFT computations of energy barriers (ΔG‡) were in good agreement with the experimental data. The distortion/interaction-activation strain model together with the Winstein-Holness kinetic scheme gave more insights into the origin of the vic-effect. An application of this effect consists of the diastereomeric resolution of disubstituted γ and δ lactones, among which are the naturally occurring Nicotiana t. lactone, the whisky and cognac oak lactones, and the Aerangis lactone. Both cis and trans diastereoisomers of these lactones were isolated in good yield and with high diastereomeric excess (de >92%). The selectivities of the diastereomeric resolution process, determined by NMR spectroscopy, are reported as well.

The canonical behavior of the entropic component of thermodynamic effective molarity. An attempt at unifying covalent and noncovalent cyclizations

The statistically corrected entropic component of effective molarity (EM_S*) complies with the “canonical” values expressed by the log plot of EM_S* vs. the number n of single bonds in the ring product.

Ring Rearrangement Metathesis in 7-Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptene (7-Oxanorbornene) Derivatives. Some Applications in Natural Product Chemistry

Metathesis reactions is firmly established as a valuable synthetic tool in organic chemistry, clearly comparable with the venerable Diels-Alder and Wittig reactions and, more recently, with the metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Metathesis reactions can be considered as a fascinating synthetic methodology, allowing different variants regarding substrate (alkene and alkyne metathesis) and type of metathetical reactions. On the other hand, tandem metathesis reactions such Ring Rearrangement Metathesis (RRM) and the coupling of metathesis reaction with other reactions of alkenes such as Diels-Alder or Heck reactions, makes metathesis one of the most powerful and reliable synthetic procedure.

In particular, Ring-Rearrangement Metathesis (RRM) refers to the combination of several metathesis transformations into a domino process such as ring-opening metathesis (ROM)/ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and ROM-cross metathesis (CM) in a one-pot operation. RRM delivers complex frameworks that are difficult to assemble by conventional methods constitutingan atom economic process. RRM is applicable to mono- and polycyclic systems of varying ring sizes such as cyclopropene, cyclobutene, cyclopentene, cyclohexene, pyran systems, bicyclo[2.2.1]heptene derivatives, bicyclo[2.2.2]octene derivatives, bicyclo[3.2.1]octene derivatives and bicyclo[3.2.1]octene derivatives.

In this review our attention has focused on the RRM reactions in 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptene derivatives and on their application in the synthesis of natural products or significant subunits of them.

Olefin cross metathesis and ring-closing metathesis in polymer chemistry

The use of olefin cross metathesis in preparing functional polymers, through either pre-functionalisation of monomers or post-polymerisation functionalisation is growing in both scope and breadth, as discussed in this review article.

Moving from Classical Ru-NHC to Neutral or Charged Rh-NHC Based Catalysts in Olefin Metathesis

Considering the versatility of oxidation states of rhodium together with the successful background of ruthenium-N-heterocyclic carbene based catalysts in olefin metathesis, it is envisaged the exchange of the ruthenium of the latter catalysts by rhodium, bearing an open-shell neutral rhodium center, or a +1 charged one. In the framework of in silico experiments, density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been used to plot the first catalytic cycle that as a first step includes the release of the phosphine. DFT is, in this case, the tool that allows the discovery of the less endergonic reaction profile from the precatalytic species for the neutral catalyst with respect to the corresponding ruthenium one; increasing the endergonic character when dealing with the charged system.

Key processes in ruthenium-catalysed olefin metathesis

While the fundamental series of [2+2]cycloadditions and retro[2+2]cycloadditions that make up the pathways of ruthenium-catalysed metathesis reactions is well-established, the exploration of mechanistic aspects of alkene metathesis continues. In this Feature Article, modern mechanistic studies of the alkene metathesis reaction, catalysed by well-defined ruthenium complexes, are discussed. Broadly, these concern the processes of pre-catalyst initiation, propagation and decomposition, which all have a considerable impact on the overall efficiency of metathesis reactions.

Copper(i)-induced amplification of a [2]catenane in a virtual dynamic library of macrocyclic alkenes

The interlocked virtual component 1 of a well-behaved dynamic library of cyclic olefins is resuscitated by means of the template effect.

Does the rate of competing isomerisation during alkene metathesis depend on pre-catalyst initiation rate?

Detailed kinetic experiments reveal that the rates of competing isomerisation processes in alkene metathesis reactions are independent of pre-catalyst initiation rate, but are reduced by the presence of phosphine.

Relationship between chemical structure and supramolecular effective molarity for formation of intramolecular H-bonds

Effective molarity (EM) is a key parameter that determines the efficiency of a range of supramolecular phenomena from the folding of macromolecules to multivalent ligand binding. Coordination complexes formed between zinc porphyrins equipped H-bond donor sites and pyridine ligands equipped with H-bond acceptor sites have allowed systematic quantification of EM values for the formation of intramolecular H-bonds in 240 different systems. The results provide insights into the relationship of EM to supramolecular architecture, H-bond strength, and solvent. Previous studies on ligands equipped with phosphonate diester and ether H-bond acceptors were inconclusive, but the experiments described here on ligands equipped with phosphine oxide, amide, and ester H-bond acceptors resolve these ambiguities. Chemical double-mutant cycles were used to dissect the thermodynamic contributions of individual H-bond interactions to the overall stabilities of the complexes and hence determine the values of EM, which fall in the range 1-1000 mM. Solvent has little effect on EM, and the values measured in toluene and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane are similar. For H-bond acceptors that have similar geometries but different H-bond strengths (amide and ester), the values of EM are very similar. For H-bond acceptors that have different geometries but similar H-bond strengths (amide and phosphonate diester), there is little correlation between the values of EM. These results imply that supramolecular EMs are independent of solvent and intrinsic H-bond strength but depend on supramolecular architecture and geometric complementarity.

Toward a simulation approach for alkene ring-closing metathesis: scope and limitations of a model for RCM

A published model for revealing solvent effects on the ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction of diethyl diallylmalonate 7 has been evaluated over a wider range of conditions, to assess its suitability for new applications. Unfortunately, the model is too flexible and the published rate constants do not agree with experimental studies in the literature. However, by fixing the values of important rate constants and restricting the concentration ranges studied, useful conclusions can be drawn about the relative rates of RCM of different substrates, precatalyst concentration can be simulated accurately and the effect of precatalyst loading can be anticipated. Progress has also been made toward applying the model to precatalyst evaluation, but further modifications to the model are necessary to achieve much broader aims.