Ruthenium-Catalyzed Metathesis Reactions in Organic Synthesis

Ruthenium Metathesis: A Key Step To Access a New Cyclic Tetrasubstituted Olefin Platform

An rapid and mild synthetic route for the preparation of cyclic tetrasubstituted platforms via ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis (RCM) has been developed. This process tolerates a wide range of functionalities such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, silicon, and carbon tethered groups, as well as very challenging fluorine and boron atoms (36 derivatives, up to 96%). This diversity-oriented method was further demonstrated by the postfunctionalization reactions, such as Pd-couplings, N-substitution, and reductive amination introducing a morpholine moiety.

Cationic Ruthenium-Catalyzed Bis-Homo-Diels-Alder Cycloaddition

OBJECTIVE

The ruthenium-catalyzed Bis-Homo-Diels-Alder cycloaddition between 1,5- cyclooctadiene and alkynes was explored, and the use of commercially available cationic catalysts was investigated. It was noted that [CpRu(CH3CN)3]PF6 was effective at catalyzing this cycloaddition and yields of the desired tricyclo[4.2.2.02,5]dec-7-ene adduct ranging from 13 to 83% were achieved using this cationic catalyst. Several cycloadducts that were previously unobtainable with the use of the neutral (Cp*RuCl(COD) catalysts were also successfully made using [CpRu(CH3CN)3]PF6 albeit in low yields.

METHODS

Commercially available, and previously synthesized alkynes were combined with 1,5-cyclooctadiene and treated with a ruthenium catalyst within a glovebox. The reaction mixture was stirred for 72h at temperatures ranging from 25 to 70oC. The desired cycloadduct was then isolated using flash column chromatography and analyzed and characterized using NMR, IR and MS.

RESULTS

Several previously unattainable adducts were synthesized using the cationic [CpRu(CH3CN)3]PF6. When this catalyst was compared to the neutral Cp*RuCl(COD) greater yields were observed.

CONCLUSION

The present study describes an improved method for the formation of the tricyclo[4.2.2.02,5]dec-7- ene framework using a commercially available cationic ruthenium catalyst. It was noted that the use of [CpRu(CH3CN)3]PF6 led to improved yields when compared to Cp*RuCl(COD).

Desymmetrization of 7-azabicycloalkenes by tandem olefin metathesis for the preparation of natural product scaffolds

Background

Tandem olefin metathesis sequences are known to be versatile for the generation of natural product scaffolds and have also been used for ring opening of strained carbo- and heterocycles. In this paper we demonstrate the potential of these reactions for the desymmetrization of 7-azabicycloalkenes.

Results

We have established efficient protocols for the desymmetrization of different 7-azabicycloalkenes by intra- and intermolecular tandem metathesis sequences with ruthenium based catalysts.

Conclusion

Desymmetrization of 7-azabicycloalkenes by olefin metathesis is an efficient process for the preparation of common natural product scaffolds such as pyrrolidines, indolizidines and isoindoles.

Azabicycloalkenes as Synthetic Intermediates − Synthesis of Azabicyclo[X.3.0]alkane Scaffolds

A general method to synthesize functionalized azabicyclo[X.3.0]alkane scaffolds 5 is reported. Key intermediates are azabicycloalkenes such as 1 and 2, which are acylated with unsaturated carboxylic acids and subsequently submitted to tandem olefin metathesis. The resulting bicyclic heterocycles are versatile intermediates for different dipeptide mimetics and can be used as intermediates for natural products with indolizidine scaffolds or analogues thereof. [reaction: see text].

Synthesis of spiro-pyridopyridine analogues by Grubbs' catalyst mediated alkene and enyne metathesis reaction

A practical synthesis of spiro-naphthyridinone derivatives is described by the combination of the Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis/ring-closing enyne metathesis process. The RCM or RCEM proceeded smoothly in the presence of Grubbs' first generation catalyst at room temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere.

Metal Vinylidenes and Allenylidenes in Catalysis: Applications in Anti-Markovnikov Additions to Terminal Alkynes and Alkene Metathesis

The involvement of a catalytic metal vinylidene species was proposed for the first time in 1986 to explain the regioselective formation of vinyl carbamates directly from terminal alkynes, carbon dioxide, and amines. Since this initial report, various metal vinylidenes and allenylidenes, which are key activation intermediates, have proved extremely useful for many alkyne transformations. They have contributed to the rational design of new catalytic reactions. This 20th anniversary is a suitable occasion to present the advancement of organometallic vinylidenes and allenylidenes in catalysis.

Lewis-acid assisted cross metathesis of acrylonitrile with functionalized olefins catalyzed by phosphine-free ruthenium carbene complex

The exchange of the PPh3 ligand in the complex [1,3-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene](PPh3)(Cl)2Ru=CHPh (7) for a pyridine ligand at ambient temperature leads to the formation of the stable phosphine-free carbene ruthenium complex [1,3-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene](C5H5N)2(Cl)2 Ru=CHPh (8). The resulted ruthenium complex exhibits highly catalytic activity for the cross metathesis of acrylonitrile with various functionalized olefins under mild conditions, and its activity can be further improved by the addition of a Lewis acid such as Ti(OiPr)4. In the mixture products, the Z-isomer predominates.

Recent applications of olefin metathesis to combinatorial chemistry

Olefin metathesis has emerged as a versatile technology for the synthesis of combinatorial libraries with regard to both scaffold creation and embellishment. The incessant pursuit of 'next-generation' catalysts continues to raise the bar in terms of efficiency, functional group tolerability, diminished reaction times and temperatures and has helped foster both diversity-oriented and target-directed efforts. This report summarizes recent contributions in the area of olefin cross-metathesis and ring-closing metathesis as applied to combinatorial and parallel synthesis. These examples include generation of dimeric benzo[b]furans as novel probes for protein-protein interaction, a cross-metathesis approach to 'traceless linkers' for azide-containing sugars, stereo-diversified synthesis of 1,4- and 1,5-enediols, a novel mannitol derived combinatorial scaffold, parallel synthesis strategies for aza-sugars, as well as the synthesis of dehydro-Freidinger lactams.

Ring-Closing Metathesis Approach to Dictyostatin

[reaction: see text] An esterification/ring-closing metathesis approach to dictyostatin and discodermolide is introduced. The approach provides for facile fragment coupling of two main segments of these natural products at the C10-C11 alkene with high to complete Z-selectivity.

The RuO4-Catalyzed Ketohydroxylation. Part 1. Development, Scope, and Limitation

A new straightforward oxidation of C,C-double bonds to unsymmetrical alpha-hydroxy ketones using catalytic amounts of RuCl(3) and stoichiometric amounts of Oxone under buffered conditions has been developed, a reaction for which we coined the expression "ketohydroxylation". The transformation allows the direct formation of alpha-hydroxy ketones (acyloins) from olefins without intermediate formation of syn-diols. The present paper will provide detailed information starting with the underlying concept and the subsequent development of the reaction. The effect of base, solvent stoichiometry, and temperature will be discussed resulting in an improved mechanistic model that might help to explain the influence of different reaction parameters on reactivity and selectivity in RuO(4)-catalyzed oxidations of C,C-double bonds. Furthermore, an improved workup procedure allows the recovery of the ruthenium catalyst by precipitation while simplifying the overall product purification. The second part of the paper focuses on exploration of scope and limitation. A variety of substituted olefins are oxidized to alpha-hydroxy ketones in good to excellent regioselectivities and yield. Cyclic substrates proved to be problematic to oxidize; however, a careful analysis of temperature effects resulted in the development of a successful protocol for the ketohydroxylation of cyclic substrates by simply decreasing the reaction temperature.

RuO4-catalyzed ketohydroxylation of olefins

A new mild method for the oxidation of a variety of olefins to alpha-hydroxy ketones is described. Using the concept of a nucleophilic reoxidant, different olefins were ketohydroxylated with high regioselectivity in good to excellent yields.

Total synthesis of (-)-salicylihalamide

A concise total synthesis of the potent cytotoxic marine natural products salicylihalamide A and B (la, b) is reported. Key steps of our approach were the asymmetric hydrogenation reactions of beta-keto esters 18 and 32 catalyzed by [((S)-BINAP)Ru-Cl2]2. NEt3 and the cyclization of the macrolide core by ring closing olefin metathesis (RCM) using the "second-generation" ruthenium carbene complex 24 as the catalyst which bears an imidazol-2-ylidene ligand. The EIZ ratio obtained in this macrocyclization reaction was determined by the protecting groups at the remote phenolic OH group of the cyclization precursor. The elaboration of the resulting cycloalkene 37 into the final target involved a CrCl2-mediated synthesis of vinyliodide 49 which, after deprotection, did undergo a copper-catalyzed cross-coupling process with the (Z,Z)-configurated carboxamide 42 to form the labile enamide moiety of 1. Compound 42 was derived from a palladium-catalyzed Negishi coupling between butynylzinc chloride and 3-iodoacrylate 39 followed by a Lindlar reduction of enyne 40 thus obtained and a final aminolysis of the ester group.

Indenylidene complexes of ruthenium: optimized synthesis, structure elucidation, and performance as catalysts for olefin metathesis--application to the synthesis of the ADE-ring system of nakadomarin A

An optimized and large scale adaptable synthesis of the ruthenium phenylindenylidene complex 3 is described which employs commercially available diphenyl propargyl alcohol 5 as a stable and convenient carbene source. Previous ambiguities as to the actual structure of the complex have been ruled out by a full analysis of its NMR spectra. A series of applications to ring closing metathesis (RCM) reactions shows that complex 3 is as good as or even superior to the classical Grubbs carbene 1 in terms of yield, reaction rate, and tolerance towards polar functional groups. Complex 3 turns out to be the catalyst of choice for the synthesis of the enantiopure core segment 77 of the marine alkaloid nakadomarin A 60 comprising the ADE rings of this target. Together with a series of other examples, this particular application illustrates that catalyst 3 is particularly well suited for the cyclization of medium-sized rings by RCM. Other key steps en route to nakadomarin A are a highly selective intramolecular Michael addition setting the quaternary center at the juncture of the A and D rings and a Takai-Nozaki olefination of aldehyde 73 with CH2I2, Ti(OiPr)4 and activated zinc dust.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of vancomycin dimers with potent activity against vancomycin-resistant bacteria: target-accelerated combinatorial synthesis

Based on the notion that dimerization and/or variation of amino acid 1 of vancomycin could potentially enhance biological activity, a series of synthetic and chemical biology studies were undertaken in order to discover potent antibacterial agents. Herein we describe two ligation methods (disulfide formation and olefin metathesis) for dimerizing vancomycin derivatives and applications of target-accelerated combinatorial synthesis (e.g. combinatorial synthesis in the presence of vancomycin's target Ac2-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala) to generate libraries of vancomycin dimers. Screening of these compound libraries led to the identification of a number of highly potent antibiotics effective against vancomycin-suspectible, vancomycin-intermediate resistant and, most significantly, vancomycin-resistant bacteria.

Comparative investigation of ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts bearing N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands

Exchange of one PCy3 unit of the classical Grubbs catalyst 1 by N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands leads to "second-generation" metathesis catalysts of superior reactivity and increased stability. Several complexes of this type have been prepared and fully characterized, six of them by X-ray crystallography. These include the unique chelate complexes 13 and 14 in which the NHC- and the Ru-CR entities are tethered to form a metallacycle. A particularly favorable design feature is that the reactivity of such catalysts can be easily adjusted by changing the electronic and steric properties of the NHC ligands. The catalytic activity also strongly depends on the solvent used; NMR investigations provide a tentative explanation of this effect. Applications of the "second-generation" catalysts to ring closing alkene metathesis and intramolecular enyne cycloisomerization reactions provide insights into their catalytic performance. From these comparative studies it is deduced that no single catalyst is optimal for different types of applications. The search for the most reactive catalyst for a specific transformation is facilitated by IR thermography allowing a rapid and semi-quantitative ranking among a given set of catalysts.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of nonylprodigiosin and macrocyclic prodigiosin analogues

Nonylprodigiosin (4) and various of its analogues have been prepared by Suzuki cross-coupling reactions of a well accessible pyrrolyl triflate with (hetero)aryl boronic acid derivatives bearing alkenyl side chains. The resulting alkenes or dienes were subjected to metathesis dimerization or ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions, respectively, by using a ruthenium indenylidene complex as the catalyst. The biological activity of the products thus obtained was tested in two different assays monitoring i) the proliferation of murine spleen cells induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and concanavalin A (Con A), and ii) the vacuolar acidification of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells. Compounds 4 and 21 suppressed Con A-induced T-cell proliferation much more potently than LPS-induced B-cell proliferation. Furthermore, compounds 4 and 26 markedly inhibited vacuolar acidification, although other compounds exhibited no or only marginal effects. Thus, the immunosuppressive activity of prodigiosins toward T-cell proliferation seems to be mediated through cellular targets distinct from vacuolar acidification, and the prodigiosin analogues might be powerful tools to dissect these biological responses. The X-ray crystal structure of the macrocyclic product 25 has been determined, showing that the replacement of one pyrrole ring of the parent compound 4 by a phenyl group does not alter the overall electronic features of the remaining heterocyclic ring system of these alkaloids.

Ring-closing alkyne metathesis. Application to the total synthesis of sophorolipid lactone

The first total synthesis of a major component of the microbial biosurfactant sophorolipid has been achieved. This approach to the 26-membered macrolide 1 containing a Z-configured alkene group in its lipidic tether spanning the sophorose backbone is based on a ring-closing metathesis reaction of diyne 21 catalyzed by Mo[N(t-Bu)(Ar)](3) (5; Ar = 3,5-dimethylphenyl) activated in situ by CH(2)Cl(2), followed by Lindlar reduction of the resulting cycloalkyne 22. The two beta-glycosidic linkages of compound 21 were installed by means of the glucal epoxide method and a modified Koenigs-Knorr reaction promoted by AgOTf/lutidine, respectively.

Variable and stereoselective synthesis of azasugar analogues by a ruthenium-catalyzed ring rearrangement

A novel ruthenium-catalyzed ring opening/ring closing tandem metathesis reaction with a catalytic transfer of stereocenters from a ring to an olefinic chain is described. This ring rearrangement serves as the key step in the stereoselective synthesis of the new azasugar analogues 1 and 2.