Highly selective cross-metathesis with phenyl vinyl sulphone using the ‘second generation’ Grubbs’ catalyst

Concise and Stereospecific Total Synthesis of Arenastatin A and Its Segment B Analogs

A novel and concise synthetic method for arenastatin A, a cytotoxic cyclic depsipeptide of marine origin, was developed in this study. The convergent assembly of the four segments, including the cross-metathesis reaction, gave a cyclization precursor, and Fmoc deprotection caused simultaneous macrocyclization. The Corey-Chaykovsky reaction using a chiral sulfur ylide afforded arenastatin A with complete stereoselectivity in the longest linear sequence of seven reaction steps from the known compound. Using this synthetic method, some analogs of segment B were prepared through a late-stage diversification strategy. The simple SN2 reaction of the thiolate toward the tosylate precursor, prepared using almost the same synthetic method as described above, provided the desired sulfide analogs.

Preparation of Functionalized α,β-Unsaturated Sulfonamides via Olefin Cross-Metathesis

The synthesis of functionalized α,β-unsaturated sulfonamides by means of cross-metathesis of vinyl sulfonamides and olefins has been developed. The reaction proceeds smoothly in the presence of Hoveyda–Grubbs catalyst and its nitro analogue, providing a wide range of substituted products. The usefulness of this methodology has been proven in the preparation of new derivatives of biologically active ingredients, moxifloxacin and naratriptan.

Bimolecular Cross-Metathesis of a Tetrasubstituted Alkene with Allylic Sulfones

Exquisite control of catalytic metathesis reactivity is possible through ligand‐based variation of ruthenium carbene complexes. Sterically hindered alkenes, however, remain a generally recalcitrant class of substrates for intermolecular cross‐metathesis. Allylic chalcogenides (sulfides and selenides) have emerged as “privileged” substrates that exhibit enhanced turnover rates with the commercially available second‐generation ruthenium catalyst. Increased turnover rates are advantageous when competing catalyst degradation is limiting, although specific mechanisms have not been defined. Herein, we describe facile cross‐metathesis of allylic sulfone reagents with sterically hindered isoprenoid alkene substrates. Furthermore, we demonstrate the first example of intermolecular cross‐metathesis of ruthenium carbenes with a tetrasubstituted alkene. Computational analysis by combined coupled cluster/DFT calculations exposes a favorable energetic profile for metallacyclobutane formation from chelating ruthenium β‐chalcogenide carbene intermediates. These results establish allylic sulfones as privileged reagents for a substrate‐based strategy of cross‐metathesis derivatization.

PhI(OAc)2 mediated decarboxylative sulfonylation of β-aryl-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids: a synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones

A highly efficient metal-free decarboxylative sulfonylation protocol for the preparation of (E)-vinyl sulfones from of β-aryl-α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids using sodium sulfinates and (diacetoxyiodo)benzene (PhI(OAc)2) was developed. This strategy offers a simple and expedient synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones bearing a wide variety of functional groups. A radical-based pathway has been proposed for this decarboxylative sulfonylation reaction.

N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed rearrangements of vinyl sulfones

N-heterocyclic carbenes catalyze the rearrangement of 1,1-bis(arylsulfonyl)ethylene to the corresponding trans-1,2-bis(phenylsulfonyl) under mild conditions. Tandem rearrangement/cycloadditions have been developed to capitalize on this new process and generate highly substituted isoxazolines and additional heterocyclic compounds. Preliminary mechanistic studies support a new conjugate addition/Umpolung process involving the ejection and subsequent unusual re-addition of a sulfinate ion.

Vinyl sulfones: synthetic preparations and medicinal chemistry applications

Vinyl sulfones have long been known for their synthetic utility in organic chemistry, easily participating in 1,4-addition reactions and cycloaddition reactions. This functional group has also recently been shown to potently inhibit a variety of enzymatic processes providing unique properties for drug design and medicinal chemistry. This review includes traditional methods used for the synthesis of vinyl sulfones, but focuses mainly on newer reactions applied to vinyl sulfones, including olefin metathesis, conjugate reduction, asymmetric dihydroxylation (AD), and the use of vinyl sulfones to arrive at highly functionalized targets, all illustrating the rich and versatile chemistry this group can efficiently perform. In addition, geminal disulfones are discussed with respect to their formation, reactions, and medicinal applications of this underutilized functional group.

A Highly Selective Synthesis of Dialkenyl Sulfones via Cross-Metathesis of Divinyl Sulfone

Catalytic cross-metathesis of commercial divinyl sulfone allowed direct access to novel (E)-alkenylvinyl sulfones and (E,E)-dialkenyl sulfones with excellent stereoselectivity. These compounds are useful building blocks, e.g., in the synthesis of substituted thiomorpholine 1,1-dioxide derivatives. [reaction: see text]

Functionality Dependent Olefin Activity in Acyclic Diene Metathesis Polymerization: Mass Spectrometry Characterization of Amino Acid Functionalized Olefins

Mass spectrometry has become an essential tool in delineating the structural properties of a new series of amino acid functionalized acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymers known as bioolefins. These measurements, coupled with the measurement of the polymers chemical and physical properties, assist in the determination of their utility as biomaterials. In the present study, a set of five polymers with different bulk size and electronic properties were chosen for structural analyses by MALDI-TOF, MALDI-FTICR, and DIOS-TOF. The obtained data show that due to the competing metathesis and isomerization during ADMET, depending on their structural properties, the olefins display different selectivity toward main metathesis or isomerized products.

Nitro-Substituted Hoveyda−Grubbs Ruthenium Carbenes: Enhancement of Catalyst Activity through Electronic Activation

The design, synthesis, stability, and catalytic activity of nitro-substituted Hoveyda-Grubbs metathesis catalysts are described. The highly active and stable meta- and para-substituted complexes are attractive from a practical point of view. These catalysts operate in very mild conditions and can be successfully applied in various types of metathesis [ring-closing metathesis, cross-metathesis (CM), and enyne metathesis]. Although the presence of a NO(2) group leads to catalysts that are dramatically more active than both the second-generation Grubbs's catalyst and the phosphine-free Hoveyda's carbene, enhancement of reactivity is somewhat lower than that observed for a sterically activated Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst. Attempts to combine two modes of activation, steric and electronic, result in severely decreasing a catalyst's stability. The present findings illustrate that different Ru catalysts turned out to be optimal for different applications. Whereas phosphine-free carbenes are catalysts of choice for CM of various electron-deficient substrates, they exhibit lower reactivity in the formation of tetrasubstituted double bonds. This demonstrates that no single catalyst outperforms all others in all possible applications.

Simple Thiazocine-2-acetic Acid Derivatives via Ring-Closing Metathesis

A new protocol for synthesis of 2-heterocylylacetic acid derivatives involving conjugate addition of allyl mercaptan to an acrylate containing a tethered olefinic site followed by RCM (ring-closing metathesis) is described. In this series, sulfanyl derivatives were unreactive, while sulfoxide and sulfone analogues provided the corresponding thiazocines in fair to excellent yields. Use of the sulfoxide oxidation state as a protecting group for sulfides inert to RCM is demonstrated also. Thus, oxidation of sulfide 9 [N-allyl-N-[2-(allylthio)-4-(1H-indol-1-yl)-4-oxobutyl]-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide] followed by cyclization yielded the corresponding thiazocine sulfoxide 12. Deprotection (deoxygenation) of 12 was accomplished using Lawesson's reagent, producing 1-[[4-[4-(methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-3,4,5,8-tetrahydro-2H-1,4-thiazocin-2-yl]acetyl]-1H-indole (21) in 67% unoptimized yield.

Synthesis of substituted p-stereogenic vinylphosphine oxides by olefin cross-metathesis

[reaction: see text] Substituted vinylphosphine oxides have been prepared in good yield and exclusive (E)-olefin selectivity via olefin cross-metathesis using Grubbs and Hoveyda-type ruthenium catalysts. In addition, metathesis of chiral vinylphosphine oxides proceeds without racemization of the phosphorus chirality center, providing easy access to functionalized chiral nonracemic (E)-alkenylphosphine oxides.

A General Model for Selectivity in Olefin Cross Metathesis

In recent years, olefin cross metathesis (CM) has emerged as a powerful and convenient synthetic technique in organic chemistry; however, as a general synthetic method, CM has been limited by the lack of predictability in product selectivity and stereoselectivity. Investigations into olefin cross metathesis with several classes of olefins, including substituted and functionalized styrenes, secondary allylic alcohols, tertiary allylic alcohols, and olefins with alpha-quaternary centers, have led to a general model useful for the prediction of product selectivity and stereoselectivity in cross metathesis. As a general ranking of olefin reactivity in CM, olefins can be categorized by their relative abilities to undergo homodimerization via cross metathesis and the susceptibility of their homodimers toward secondary metathesis reactions. When an olefin of high reactivity is reacted with an olefin of lower reactivity (sterically bulky, electron-deficient, etc.), selective cross metathesis can be achieved using feedstock stoichiometries as low as 1:1. By employing a metathesis catalyst with the appropriate activity, selective cross metathesis reactions can be achieved with a wide variety of electron-rich, electron-deficient, and sterically bulky olefins. Application of this model has allowed for the prediction and development of selective cross metathesis reactions, culminating in unprecedented three-component intermolecular cross metathesis reactions.

Novel alkenylative cyclization using a ruthenium catalyst

Novel alkenylative cyclization of enyne was developed using Cp*RuCl(cod) under ethylene gas at room temperature.

Synthesis of symmetrical trisubstituted olefins by cross metathesis

[reaction: see text] Trisubstituted alkenes have been prepared via intermolecular olefin cross-metathesis (CM) between alpha-olefins and symmetrically 1,1-disubstituted olefins using an imidazolylidene ruthenium benzylidene complex. Of particular interest is the synthesis of isoprenoid/prenyl groups by a simple solvent-free CM reaction with isobutylene. In addition, prenyl groups can also be installed by a cross-metathesis of 2-methyl-2-butene with a variety of alpha-olefins at room temperature with low catalyst loadings.

Synthesis of cyclic sulfones by ring-closing metathesis

A general and highly efficient synthesis of cyclic sulfones based on ring-closing metathesis has been developed. The synthetic utility of the resulting cyclic sulfones was demonstrated by their participation in stereoselective Diels-Alder reactions and transformation to cyclic dienes by the Ramberg-Bäcklund reaction.