Understanding Structural Isomerization during Ruthenium-Catalyzed Olefin Metathesis: A Deuterium Labeling Study

Reprocessability in Engineering Thermosets Achieved Through Frontal Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

While valued for their durability and exceptional performance, crosslinked thermosets are challenging to recycle and reuse. Here, inherent reprocessability in industrially relevant polyolefin thermosets is unveiled. Unlike prior methods, this approach eliminates the need to introduce exchangeable functionality to regenerate the material, relying instead on preserving the activity of the metathesis catalyst employed in the curing reaction. Frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP) proves critical to preserving this activity. Conditions controlling catalytic viability are explored to successfully reclaim performance across multiple generations of material, thus demonstrating long-term reprocessability. This straightforward and scalable remolding strategy is poised for widespread adoption. Given the anticipated growth in polyolefin thermosets, these findings represent an important conceptual advance in the pursuit of a fully circular lifecycle for thermoset polymers.

Unraveling Reactivity Differences: Room-Temperature Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) versus Frontal ROMP

In this study, we explore the distinct reactivity patterns between frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP) and room-temperature solventless ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Despite their shared mechanism, we find that FROMP is less sensitive to inhibitor concentration than room-temperature ROMP. By increasing the initiator-to-monomer ratio for a fixed inhibitor/initiator quantity, we find reduction in the ROMP background reactivity at room temperature (i.e., increased resin pot life). At elevated temperatures where inhibitor dissociation prevails, accelerated frontal polymerization rates are observed because of the concentrated presence of the initiator. Surprisingly, the strategy of employing higher initiator loading enhances both pot life and front speeds, which leads to FROMP rates exceeding prior reported values by over 5 times. This counterintuitive behavior is attributed to an increase in the proximity of the inhibitor to the initiator within the bulk resin and to whether the temperature favors coordination or dissociation of the inhibitor. A rapid method was developed for assessing resin pot life, and a straightforward model for active initiator behavior was established. Modified resin systems enabled direct ink writing of robust thermoset structures at rates much faster than previously possible.

Stereocontrolled acyclic diene metathesis polymerization

The cis/trans geometry of olefins is known to dramatically influence the thermal and mechanical properties of polyalkenamers. Yet, polymerization methods that efficiently control this parameter are scarce. Here we report the development of a stereoretentive acyclic diene metathesis polymerization that uses the reactivity of dithiolate Ru carbenes combined with cis monomers. These Ru catalysts exhibit exquisite retention of the cis geometry and tolerate many polar functional groups, enabling the synthesis of all-cis polyesters, polycarbonates, polyethers and polysulfites. The stereoretentive acyclic diene metathesis polymerization is also characterized by low catalyst loadings and tolerance towards trans impurities in the monomer batch, which should facilitate large-scale implementation. Modulation of the reaction temperature and time leads to an erosion of stereoretention, permitting a stereocontrolled synthesis of polyalkenamers with predictable cis:trans ratios. The impact of the stereochemistry of the repeating alkenes on the thermal properties is clearly demonstrated through differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis.

Trimerization and cyclization of reactive P-functionalities confined within OCO pincers

In order to stabilize a 10–P–3 species with C_2v symmetry and two lone pairs on the central phosphorus atom, a specialized ligand is required. Using an NCN pincer, previous efforts to enforce this planarized geometry at P resulted in the formation of a C_s-symmetric, 10π-electron benzazaphosphole that existed as a dynamic “bell-clapper” in solution. Here, OCO pincers 1 and 2 were synthesized, operating under the hypothesis that the more electron-withdrawing oxygen donors would better stabilize the 3-center, 4-electron O–P–O bond of the 10–P–3 target and the sp³-hybridized benzylic carbon atoms would prevent the formation of aromatic P-heterocycles. However, subjecting 1 to a metalation/phosphination/reduction sequence afforded cyclotriphosphane 3, resulting from trimerization of the P(i) center unbound by its oxygen donors. Pincer 2 featuring four benzylic CF₃ groups was expected to strengthen the O–P–O bond of the target, but after metal–halogen exchange and quenching with PCl₃, unexpected cyclization with loss of CH₃Cl was observed to give monochlorinated 5. Treatment of 5 with (p-CH₃)C₆H₄MgBr generated crystalline P-(p-Tol) derivative 6, which was characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. The complex ¹⁹F NMR spectra of 5 and 6 observed experimentally, were reproduced by simulations with MestreNova.

Attempted synthesis of OCO-supported 10–P–3 species led to trimerization or cyclization.

Exhaustive Reduction of Esters Enabled by Nickel Catalysis

We report a one-step procedure to directly reduce unactivated aryl esters into their corresponding tolyl derivatives. This is achieved by an organosilane-mediated ester hydrosilylation reaction and subsequent Ni/NHC-catalyzed hydrogenolysis. The resulting conditions provide a direct and efficient alternative to multi-step procedures for this transformation that often require the use of hazardous metal hydrides. Applications in the synthesis of -CD₃-containing products, derivatization of bioactive molecules, and chemoselective reduction in the presence of other C-O bonds are demonstrated.

Palladium-catalyzed intermolecular [4 + 2] formal cycloaddition with (Z)-3-iodo allylic nucleophiles and allenamides

A highly chemo- and regioselective [4 + 2] formal cycloaddition of (Z)-3-iodo allylic nucleophiles and allenamides catalyzed by palladium is reported. The methodology proceeds under mild reaction conditions and is tolerant of alkyl and aryl functional groups. The SN2' substitution at the proximal C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bond performed against the Heck or SN2 pathway delivered a variety of 2-amino-dihydropyrans and 2-amino-tetrahydropiperidines in moderate to satisfactory yields. The [4 + 2] formal cycloaddition derivatives are convertible to interesting scaffolds 2,6,7,7a-tetrahydropyrano[2,3-b]pyrrole and 2,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives via ring-closing metathesis (RCM) with Grubbs catalyst II.

Oligo(ethylene glycol) Length Effect of Water-Soluble Ru-Based Olefin Metathesis Catalysts on Reactivity and Removability

A study of reaction kinetics and removal efficiency of a family of ruthenium (Ru)-based olefin metathesis catalysts containing ethylene-glycol-oligomer-tethered N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands has been carried out, with a focus on variation of ethylene glycol oligomer length. The length of ethylene glycol oligomer was precisely defined by sequential addition of repeating units. Due to the dual solubility of ethylene glycol oligomer, the produced catalyst was highly soluble in both aqueous and organic solvents (dichloromethane). In aqueous solution, the polarity increase with longer ethylene glycol oligomers enhanced the reactivity in homogeneous solution. The length of ethylene glycol oligomer did not significantly affect olefin metathesis rate in organic solution. Yet the removal efficiency of catalyst strongly relies on the length of ethylene glycol oligomer. A longer ethylene glycol oligomer demonstrated better catalyst removal efficiency. The tested catalyst removal method was aqueous extraction from organic solution using its higher water solubility property compared to its lower organic solvent (dichloromethane) solubility property. The results obtained from the aqueous extraction catalyst removal method demonstrated similar and/or better removal rates compared to previously reported host-guest catalyst removal methods.

Synthesis of Dihydrooxepino[3,2-c]Pyrazoles via Claisen Rearrangement and Ring-Closing Metathesis from 4-Allyloxy-1H-pyrazoles

Synthesis of novel pyrazole-fused heterocycles, i.e., dihydro-1H- or 2H-oxepino[3,2-c]pyrazoles (6 or 7) from 4-allyloxy-1H-pyrazoles (1) via combination of Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) has been achieved. A suitable catalyst for the RCM of 5-allyl-4-allyloxy-1H-pyrazoles (4) was proved to be the Grubbs second generation catalyst (Grubbs2nd) to give the predicted RCM product at room temperature in three hours. The same reactions of the regioisomer, 3-allyl-4-allyloxy-1H-pyrazoles (5), also proceeded to give the corresponding RCM products. On the other hand, microwave aided RCM at 140 °C on both of 4 and 5 afforded mixtures of isomeric products with double bond rearrangement from normal RCM products in spite of remarkable reduction of the reaction time to 10 min.

Forged and fashioned for faithfulness-ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts bearing ammonium tags

In this article, the synthesis and applications of selected ammonium tagged Ru-alkylidene metathesis catalysts were described. Because of the straightforward synthesis, the first generation of onium-tagged catalysts have the ammonium group installed in the benzylidene ligand. Such catalysts usually give relatively pure metathesis products, and are used in polar solvents and water, or immobilised on various supports. Later, catalysts tagged in the N-heterocyclic carbene ligand (NHC) were developed to offer higher stability and even lower metal contamination levels. Due to minimal leaching, the non-dissociating ligand tagged systems were successfully immobilised on various supports, including zeolites and Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and used in batch and in continuous flow conditions.

Precision polymers containing main-chain-amino acids: ADMET polymerization and crystallization

New PE-type precision oligomers displaying different amino acids (chiral/achiral, polar/non-polar) placed at every 19th carbon atom are presented.

Base-Catalyzed Stereospecific Isomerization of Electron-Deficient Allylic Alcohols and Ethers through Ion-Pairing

A mild base-catalyzed strategy for the isomerization of allylic alcohols and allylic ethers has been developed. Experimental and computational investigations indicate that transition metal catalysts are not required when basic additives are present. As in the case of using transition metals under basic conditions, the isomerization catalyzed solely by base also follows a stereospecific pathway. The reaction is initiated by a rate-limiting deprotonation. Formation of an intimate ion pair between an allylic anion and the conjugate acid of the base results in efficient transfer of chirality. Through this mechanism, stereochemical information contained in the allylic alcohols is transferred to the ketone products. The stereospecific isomerization is also applicable for the first time to allylic ethers, yielding synthetically valuable enantioenriched (up to 97% ee) enol ethers.

Ethenolysis: A Green Catalytic Tool to Cleave Carbon-Carbon Double Bonds

Remarkable innovations have been made in the field of olefin metathesis due to the design and preparation of new catalysts. Ethenolysis, which is cross-metathesis with ethylene, represents one catalytic transformation that has been used with the purpose of cleaving internal carbon-carbon double bonds. The objectives were either the ring opening of cyclic olefins to produce dienes or the shortening of unsaturated hydrocarbon chains to degrade polymers or generate valuable shorter terminal olefins in a controlled manner. This Review summarizes several aspects of this reaction: the catalysts, their degradation in the presence of ethylene, some parameters driving their productivity, the side reactions, and the applications of ethenolysis in organic synthesis and in potential industrial applications.

Supported Catalysts Useful in Ring-Closing Metathesis, Cross Metathesis, and Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Ruthenium and molybdenum catalysts are widely used in synthesis of both small molecules and macromolecules. While major developments have led to new increasingly active catalysts that have high functional group compatibility and stereoselectivity, catalyst/product separation, catalyst recycling, and/or catalyst residue/product separation remain an issue in some applications of these catalysts. This review highlights some of the history of efforts to address these problems, first discussing the problem in the context of reactions like ring-closing metathesis and cross metathesis catalysis used in the synthesis of low molecular weight compounds. It then discusses in more detail progress in dealing with these issues in ring opening metathesis polymerization chemistry. Such approaches depend on a biphasic solid/liquid or liquid separation and can use either always biphasic or sometimes biphasic systems and approaches to this problem using insoluble inorganic supports, insoluble crosslinked polymeric organic supports, soluble polymeric supports, ionic liquids and fluorous phases are discussed.

Isomerization of Olefins Triggered by Rhodium-Catalyzed C-H Bond Activation: Control of Endocyclic β-Hydrogen Elimination

Five-membered metallacycles are typically reluctant to undergo endocyclic β-hydrogen elimination. The rhodium-catalyzed isomerization of 4-pentenals into 3-pentenals occurs through this elementary step and cleavage of two C-H bonds, as supported by deuterium-labeling studies. The reaction proceeds without decarbonylation, leads to trans olefins exclusively, and tolerates other olefins normally prone to isomerization. Endocyclic β-hydrogen elimination can also be controlled in an enantiodivergent reaction on a racemic mixture.

Aspartic protease inhibitors containing tertiary alcohol transition-state mimics

Aspartic proteases (APs) are a class of enzymes engaged in the proteolytic digestion of peptide substrates. APs play important roles in physiological and infectious pathways, making them plausible drug targets. For instance in the treatment of HIV infections, access to an efficient combination of protease and reverse transcriptase inhibitors have changed a terminal illness to a chronic but manageable disease. However, the benefits have been limited due to the emergence of drug resistant viral strains, poor pharmacokinetic properties of peptidomimetic inhibitors and adverse effects associated with the treatment. In the 1980s, D. Rich and co-workers proposed a novel strategy for the development of AP inhibitors by replacing the secondary hydroxyl group with a tertiary alcohol as part of the transition state (TS) mimicking moiety. This strategy has been extensively explored over the last decade with a common belief that masking of the polar group, e.g. by intramolecular hydrogen bonding, has the potential to enhance transcellular transport. This is the first review presenting the advances of AP inhibitors comprising a tertiary hydroxyl group. The inhibitors have been classified into different tert-hydroxy TS mimics and their design strategies, synthesis, biological activities, structure-activity-relationships and X-ray structures are discussed.

Structure-based design of novel naproxen derivatives targeting monomeric nucleoprotein of Influenza A virus

The nucleoprotein (NP) binds the viral RNA genome as oligomers assembled with the polymerase in a ribonucleoprotein complex required for transcription and replication of influenza A virus. Novel antiviral candidates targeting the nucleoprotein either induced higher order oligomers or reduced NP oligomerization by targeting the oligomerization loop and blocking its insertion into adjacent nucleoprotein subunit. In this study, we used a different structure-based approach to stabilize monomers of the nucleoprotein by drugs binding in its RNA-binding groove. We recently identified naproxen as a drug competing with RNA binding to NP with antiinflammatory and antiviral effects against influenza A virus. Here, we designed novel derivatives of naproxen by fragment extension for improved binding to NP. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that among these derivatives, naproxen A and C0 were most promising. Their chemical synthesis is described. Both derivatives markedly stabilized NP monomer against thermal denaturation. Naproxen C0 bound tighter to NP than naproxen at a binding site predicted by MD simulations and shown by competition experiments using wt NP or single-point mutants as determined by surface plasmon resonance. MD simulations suggested that impeded oligomerization and stabilization of monomeric NP is likely to be achieved by drugs binding in the RNA grove and inducing close to their binding site conformational changes of key residues hosting the oligomerization loop as observed for the naproxen derivatives. Naproxen C0 is a potential antiviral candidate blocking influenza nucleoprotein function.

Synthesis of P1'-functionalized macrocyclic transition-state mimicking HIV-1 protease inhibitors encompassing a tertiary alcohol

Seven novel tertiary alcohol containing linear HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PIs), decorated at the para position of the benzyl group in the P1' side with (hetero)aromatic moieties, were synthesized and biologically evaluated. To study the inhibition and antiviral activity effect of P1-P3 macrocyclization, 14- and 15-membered macrocyclic PIs were prepared by ring-closing metathesis of the corresponding linear PIs. The macrocycles were more active than the linear precursors and compound 10f, with a 2-thiazolyl group in the P1' position, was the most potent PI of this new series (Ki 2.2 nM, EC50 0.2 μM). Co-crystallized complexes of both linear and macrocyclic PIs with the HIV-1 protease enzyme were prepared and analyzed.

Theory-assisted development of a robust and Z-selective olefin metathesis catalyst

DFT calculations have predicted a new, highly Z-selective ruthenium-based olefin metathesis catalyst that is considerably more robust than the recently reported (SIMes)(Cl)(RS)RuCH(o-OiPrC6H4) (3a, SIMes = 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene, R = 2,4,6-triphenylbenzene) [J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2013, 135, 3331]. Replacing the chloride of 3a by an isocyanate ligand to give 5a was predicted to increase the stability of the complex considerably, at the same time moderately improving the Z-selectivity. Compound 5a is easily prepared in a two-step synthesis starting from the Hoveyda-Grubbs second-generation catalyst 3. In agreement with the calculations, the isocyanate-substituted 5a appears to be somewhat more Z-selective than the chloride analogue 3a. More importantly, 5a can be used in air, with unpurified and non-degassed substrates and solvents, and in the presence of acids. These are traits that are unprecedented among highly Z-selective olefin metathesis catalysts and also very promising with respect to applications of the new catalyst.

Isotopic probes for ruthenium-catalyzed olefin metathesis

¹³C-labelled Grubbs catalysts, RuCl₂(L)(PCy₃)(¹³CHR) (R = H, Ph), pinpoint the fate of the methylidene (benzylidene) moiety during metathesis and deactivation.

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.