Studies toward the total synthesis of di- and sesterterpenes with a dicyclopenta[a,d]cyclooctane skeleton. Construction of a versatile A/B ring building block via a ring-closing metathesis reaction and carbocationic rearrangement

Tandem catalysis versus one-pot catalysis: ensuring process orthogonality in the transformation of essential-oil phenylpropenoids into high-value products via olefin isomerization–metathesis

One-pot and tandem catalysis methodologies are explored in developing efficient isomerization–metathesis routes to high-value cinnamates and ferulates from essential-oil allylbenzenes.

Ionic liquid-promoted Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement of 16α,17α-epoxyandrostanes and 16α,17α-epoxyestranes

Ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim](+)[PF(6)](-)) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim](+)[BF(4)](-)) were found to promote an unusual Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement of steroidal 16α,17α-epoxides leading to unnatural 13-epi-18-nor-16-one derivatives as the main products. These compounds were isolated in good to excellent yields. 16α-Hydroxy-Δ(13)-18-norsteroids, the results of the usual rearrangement, were obtained as minor components of the reaction mixtures. The ionic liquid [bmim](+)[PF(6)](-) was shown to induce C-ring aromatization of 16α,17α-epoxyestranes due to the formation of HF, the hydrolysis product of [PF(6)](-). Increasing amounts of HF and [PO(2)F(2)](-) were detected by (19)F and (31)P NMR when the ionic liquid was reused. The structures of the steroidal products, 16-oxo-18-nor-13α-steroid derivatives, 16α-hydroxy-Δ(13)-18-norsteroids, and C-aromatic compounds were determined by two-dimensional NMR techniques and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The ionic liquids were recirculated efficiently.

Construction of eight-membered carbocycles with trisubstituted double bonds using the ring closing metathesis reaction

Medium sized carbocycles are particularly difficult to synthesize. Ring closing metathesis reactions (RCM) have recently been applied to construct eight-membered carbocycles, but trisubstituted double bonds in the eight-membered rings are more difficult to produce using RCM reactions. In this review, model examples and our own results are cited and the importance of the preparation of suitably designed precursors is discussed. Examples of RCM reactions used in the total synthesis of natural products are also outlined.

A new concept for the noncovalent binding of a ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalyst to polymeric phases: preparation of a catalyst on Raschig rings

A new concept for noncovalent immobilization of a ruthenium olefin metathesis catalyst is presented. The 2-isopropoxybenzylidene ligand of a Hoveyda-Grubbs carbene is further modified by an additional amino group (7) and immobilization is achieved by treatment with sulfonated polystyrene forming the corresponding ammonium salt. In this novel strategy for the immobilization of ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts, the amino group plays a two-fold role, being first an active anchor for immobilization and second, after protonation, activating the catalysts (electron donating to electron withdrawing activity switch). The polymeric support was prepared by precipitation polymerization which led to small bead sizes (0.2-2 microm) and large surface areas. Compared to commercial resins this tailor-made phase showed superior properties in immobilization of complex 7. This concept of immobilization was applied to glass-polymer composite megaporous Raschig rings. Ru catalyst 7 on Raschig rings was used under batch conditions in various metathesis reactions, including ring-closing (RCM), cross- (CM) and enyne metathesis, to give products of high chemical purity with very low ruthenium contamination levels (21-102 ppm). The same ring can be used for up to 6 cycles of metathesis.