Preparation of Macrocyclic

The first examples of catalyst-controlled stereoselective macrocyclic ring-closing metathesis reactions that generate Z-enoates as well as (E,Z)- or (Z,E)-dienoates are disclosed. Reactions promoted by 3.0–10 mol % of a Mo-based monoaryloxide pyrrolide complex proceed to completion within 2–6 h at room temperature. The desired macrocycles are formed in 79:21 to >98:2 Z/E selectivity; stereoisomerically pure products can be obtained in 43–75% yield after chromatography. Utility is demonstrated by application to a concise formal synthesis of the natural product (+)-aspicilin.United States. National Institutes of Health (GM-59426

Direct synthesis of Z-alkenyl halides through catalytic cross-metathesis

Olefin metathesis has had a large impact on modern organic chemistry, but important shortcomings remain: for example, the lack of efficient processes that can be used to generate acyclic alkenyl halides. Halo-substituted ruthenium carbene complexes decompose rapidly or deliver low activity and/or minimal stereoselectivity, and our understanding of the corresponding high-oxidation-state systems is limited. Here we show that previously unknown halo-substituted molybdenum alkylidene species are exceptionally reactive and are able to participate in high-yielding olefin metathesis reactions that afford acyclic 1,2-disubstituted Z-alkenyl halides. Transformations are promoted by small amounts of a catalyst that is generated in situ and used with unpurified, commercially available and easy-to-handle liquid 1,2-dihaloethene reagents, and proceed to high conversion at ambient temperature within four hours. We obtain many alkenyl chlorides, bromides and fluorides in up to 91 per cent yield and complete Z selectivity. This method can be used to synthesize biologically active compounds readily and to perform site- and stereoselective fluorination of complex organic molecules.National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U.S.) (GM-59426 and GM-57212

Synthesis of Molybdenum and Tungsten Alkylidene Complexes That Contain Sterically Demanding Arenethiolate Ligands

Imido alkylidene complexes of Mo and W and oxo alkylidene complexes of W that contain thiophenoxide ligands of the type S-2,3,5,6-Ph[subscript 4]C[subscript 6]H (STPP) and S-2,6-(mesityl)[subscript 2]C[subscript 6]H[subscript 3] (SHMT = S-hexamethylterphenyl) have been prepared in order to compare their metathesis activity with that of the analogous phenoxide complexes. All thiolate complexes were significantly slower (up to ∼10× slower) for the metathesis homocoupling of 1-octene or polymerization of 2,3-dicarbomethoxynorbornene, and none of them was Z-selective. The slower rates could be attributed to the greater σ-donating ability of a thiophenoxide versus the analogous phenoxide and consequently a higher electron density at the metal in the thiophenoxide complexes.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant GM-59426

Catalyst discovery through combinatorial chemistry

AbstractCombinatorial chemistry and high-throughput strategies can be used to identify effective small-molecule chiral catalysts. Infrared thermography has been used recently as the means to identify the most active catalyst

Catalyst‐Controlled Stereoselective Olefin Metathesis as a Principal Strategy in Multistep Synthesis Design: A Concise Route to (+)‐Neopeltolide

Molybdenum-, tungsten-, and ruthenium-based complexes that control the stereochemical outcome of olefin metathesis reactions have been recently introduced. However, the complementary nature of these systems through their combined use in multistep complex molecule synthesis has not been illustrated. A concise diastereo- and enantioselective route that furnishes the anti-proliferative natural product neopeltolide is now disclosed. Catalytic transformations are employed to address every stereochemical issue. Among the featured processes are an enantioselective ring-opening/cross-metathesis promoted by a Mo monoaryloxide pyrrolide (MAP) complex and a macrocyclic ring-closing metathesis that affords a trisubstituted alkene and is catalyzed by a Mo bis(aryloxide) species. Furthermore, Z-selective cross-metathesis reactions, facilitated by Mo and Ru complexes, have been employed in the stereoselective synthesis of the acyclic dienyl moiety of the target molecule

Endo-Selective Enyne Ring- Closing Metathesis Promoted by Stereogenic-at-W Mono-Pyrrolide Complexes

The utility of W-alkylidene complexes for enyne ring-closing metathesis is demonstrated in a direct comparison with Mo-based analogs. Tungsten complexes lead to less alkyne oligomerization and higher levels of endo-selectivity and enantioselectivity.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (GM-59426