Chelate-assisted ring-closing metathesis: A strategy for accelerating macrocyclization at ambient temperatures

Carolyn S. Higman, Daniel L. Nascimento, Benjamin J. Ireland, Stephan Audörsch, Gwendolyn A. Bailey, Robert McDonald, Deryn E. Fogg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ring-closing metathesis (RCM) offers versatile catalytic routes to macrocycles, with applications ranging from perfumery to production of antiviral drugs. Unwanted oligomerization, however, is a long-standing challenge. Oligomers can be converted into the cyclic targets by catalysts that are sufficiently reactive to promote backbiting (e.g., Ru complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes; NHCs), but catalyst decomposition limits yields and selectivity. Incorporation of a hemilabile o-dianiline (ODA) chelate into new catalysts of the form RuCl2(NHC)(ODA)(=CHPh) accelerates macrocyclization, particularly for dienes bearing polar sites capable of H-bonding: it may also inhibit catalyst decomposition during metathesis. Significant improvements relative to prior Ru-NHC catalysts result, with fast macrocyclization of conformationally flexible dienes at room temperature.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1604-1607
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume140
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 7 2018
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was funded by NSERC of Canada. NSERC is thanked for fellowships to C.S.H., B.J.I., and G.A.B.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 American Chemical Society.

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