Synthesis of Cis,syndiotactic A-alt-B Copolymers from Two Enantiomerically Pure Trans-2,3-Disubstituted-5,6-Norbornenes

Development of Highly Enantio- and Z-Selective Grubbs Catalysts via Controllable C-H Bond Activation

Asymmetric olefin metathesis is a powerful strategy for stereocontrolled synthesis that allows the formation of chiral elements in conjunction with carbon-carbon double bonds. Here, we report a new series of cyclometalated stereogenic-at-Ru catalysts that enable highly efficient asymmetric ring opening/cross-metathesis (AROCM) and asymmetric ring-closing metathesis (ARCM) reactions. Single enantiomers of these catalysts with either right-handed or left-handed configurations at the Ru center can be easily accessed via highly stereoselective C-H bond activation-based cyclometalation. Right-handed chiral Ru catalysts enabled the Z- and enantioselective AROCM of a wide range of norbornenes and terminal alkenes, generating densely functionalized cyclopentanes with excellent stereo- and enantioselectivities (99:1 Z/E, up to 99% ee). Left-handed chiral Ru catalysts enabled the facile ARCM of sterically unhindered, all-terminal prochiral trienes, which had not been achieved by previous Ru catalysts, providing simple cyclic ethers and amides with tertiary or quaternary carbon stereocenters with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).

cis-Specific ring opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) of cyclic olefins using (pentafluorophenylimido)vanadium(v)-alkylidene, V(CHSiMe3)(NC6F5)[OC(CF3)3](PMe3)2

Highly cis-specific (Z selective) ring opening metathesis polymerisation of cycloheptene has been demonstrated using V(CHSiMe₃)(NC₆F₅)[OC(CF₃)₃](PMe₃)₂.

Tuning the Reactivity of Cyclopropenes from Living Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) to Single-Addition and Alternating ROMP

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) has become one of the most important living polymerizations. Cyclopropenes (CPEs) remain underexplored for ROMP. Described here is that the simple swap of 1-methyl to 1-phenyl on 1-(benzoyloxymethyl)CPEs elicited strikingly different modes of reactivity, switching from living polymerization to either selective single-addition or living alternating ROMP. The distinct reactivity stems from differences in steric repulsions at the Ru alkylidene after CPE ring opening. Possible olefin or oxygen chelation from ring-opened CPE substituents was also observed to significantly affect the rate of propagation. These results demonstrate the versatility of CPEs as a new class of monomers for ROMP, provide mechanistic insights for designing new monomers with rare single-addition reactivity, and generate a new functionalizable alternating copolymer scaffold with controlled molecular weight and low dispersity.

Syntheses of Molybdenum Oxo Alkylidene Complexes through Addition of Water to an Alkylidyne Complex

Addition of one equiv of water to Mo(CAr)[OCMe(CF3)2]3(1,2-dimethoxyethane) (2, Ar = o-(OMe)C6H4) in the presence of PPhMe2 leads to formation of Mo(O)(CHAr)[OCMe(CF3)2]2(PPhMe2) (3(PPhMe2)) in 34% yield. Addition of one equiv of water alone to 2 produces the dimeric alkylidyne hydroxide complex, {Mo(CAr)[OCMe(CF3)2]2(μ-OH)}2(dme) (4(dme)) in which each bridging hydroxide proton points toward an oxygen atom in an arylmethoxy group. Addition of PMe3 to 4(dme) gives the alkylidene oxo complex, (3(PMe3)), an analogue of 3(PPhMe2) (95% conversion, 66% isolated). Treatment of 3(PMe3) with two equiv of HCl gave Mo(O)(CHAr)Cl2(PMe3) (5), which upon addition of LiO-2,6-(2,4,6-i-Pr3C6H2)2C6H3 (LiOHIPT) gave Mo(O)(CHAr)(OHIPT)Cl(PMe3) (6). Compound 6 in the presence of B(C6F5)3 will initiate the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cyclooctene, 5,6-dicarbomethoxynorbornadiene (DCMNBD), and rac-5,6-dicarbomethoxynorbornene (DCMNBE), and the homocoupling of 1-decene to 9-octadecene. The poly(DCMNBD) has a cis,syndiotactic structure, whereas poly(DCMNBE) has a cis,syndiotactic,alt structure. X-ray structures were obtained for 3(PPhMe2), 4(dme), and 6.

Access to Bicyclo[4.2.0]octene Monomers To Explore the Scope of Alternating Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-1(8)-ene-8-carboxamides undergo alternating ring-opening metathesis polymerization (AROMP) with cyclohexene. Herein, a general method for the preparation of bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-(8)-ene-8-carboxy derivatives is described. The central 8-cyano intermediate provides entry to five different functional group substituents on the alkene. These monomers were tested as potential substrates for AROMP with cyclohexene. In addition to the carboxamide, the carboxynitrile and carboxaldehyde are also substrates for AROMP. In the case of the carboxaldehyde, the polymer is regioregular. However, the addition of carboxynitrile is stereoirregular and slow.

Synthesis of 2,6-Hexa-tert-butylterphenyl Derivatives, 2,6-(2,4,6-t-Bu3C6H2)2C6H3X, where X = I, Li, OH, SH, N3, or NH2

A "double benzyne" reaction between 1,3-dichloro-2-iodobenzene and 2,4,6-t-Bu3C6H2MgBr followed by the addition of iodine led to 2,6-(2,4,6-t-Bu3C6H2)2C6H3I (HTBTI) in 65% yield. Lithiation of HTBTI with Li-t-Bu gave Li(Et2O)2HTBT from which HTBTSH, HTBTN3, HTBTNH2, and HTBTOH were prepared. An X-ray structure of W(OHTBT)2Cl4 shows that the two HTBTO ligands are trans to one another with the t-Bu3C6H2 groups on one HTBTO interdigitated with the t-Bu3C6H2 groups on the other HTBTO.

Syntheses of Molybdenum Adamantylimido and t-Butylimido Alkylidene Chloride Complexes Using HCI and Diphenylmethylphosphine

Reactions between Mo(N-t-Bu)₂(CH₂-t-Bu)₂ or Mo(NAdamantyl)₂(CH₂CMe₂Ph)₂ and 3 equiv of HCl in the presence of 1 equiv of PPh₂Me yield Mo(NR)(CHR')(PPh₂Me)Cl₂ complexes, from which Mo(NR)(CHR')(PPh₂Me)(OAr)Cl complexes (OAr = a 2,6-terphenoxide) can be prepared. The Mo(NR)(CHR')(PPh₂Me)(OAr)Cl complexes were evaluated as cross-metathesis catalysts between cyclooctene and Z-1,2-dichloroethylene. The efficiencies of the test reaction for complexes in which OAr = OTPP, OHMT, OHIPT, or OHTBT (where OTPP is 2,3,5,6-tetraphenylphenoxide, OHMT is hexamethylterphenoxide, OHIPT is hexaisopropylterphenoxide, and OHTBT is hexa-t-butylterphenoxide) maximize when OAr is OHMT or OHIPT. Mo(N-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(PPh₂Me)Cl₂ is essentially inactive for the reaction between cyclooctene and Z-1,2-dichloroethylene. X-ray structural studies were carried out on Mo(NAd)(CHCMe₂Ph)(PPh₂Me)Cl₂, Mo(N-t-Bu)(CH-t-Bu)(PPh₂Me)(OHMT)Cl, Mo(NAd)(CHCMe₂Ph)(Cl)(OHTBT)(PMe₃), and [Mo(NAd)(CHCMe₂Ph)(PMe₃)(Cl)]₂(μ-O), the product of the reaction between Mo(NAd)(CHCMe₂Ph)(Cl)(OHTBT)(PMe₃) and 0.5 equiv of water.