The ring-opening carbonyl-olefin metathesis of cyclobutenes to furnish γ,δ-unsaturated aldehydes-formal Claisen rearrangement products-is reported. The bistrifluoroacetic acid salt of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane promotes these reactions efficiently with a variety of cyclobutenes and aldehydes, including aliphatic, α,β-unsaturated, aryl, and heteroaryl aldehydes. Catalytic reactions are also demonstrated.
Keywords: carbonyl-olefin metathesis; cycloaddition; cyclobutenes; cycloreversion; hydrazine catalysis.