Synthesis of Medium-Sized Carbocycles by Gallium-Catalyzed Tandem Carbonyl-Olefin Metathesis/Transfer Hydrogenation

Org Lett. 2019 Oct 4;21(19):8132-8137. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.9b03240. Epub 2019 Sep 23.

Abstract

The first examples of a catalytic tandem process involving a ring-closing carbonyl-olefin metathesis and a transfer hydrogenation are described. 1,4-Cyclohexadiene has been used as an H2 surrogate to reduce the cyclic alkenes formed after the metathesis step. The same cationic gallium(III) complex, [IPr·GaCl2][SbF6], performs the two steps with functional group tolerance. This stereoselective reaction leads to 1,2-cis-disubstituted cyclopentanes and various cyclohexanes. DFT computations support an unexpected mechanism involving activation of 1,4-cyclohexadiene by superelectrophilic gallium(III) dimers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't