Ru-catalyzed Ring-closing Metathesis Research Articles

Synthesis of Cystine-Stabilised Dicarba Conotoxin EpI: Ring-Closing Metathesis of Sidechain Deprotected, Sulfide-Rich Sequences.

Recombinant peptide synthesis allows for large-scale production of peptides with therapeutic potential. However, access to dicarba peptidomimetics via sidechain-deprotected sequences becomes challenging with exposed Lewis basicity presented by amine and sulfur-containing residues. Presented here is a combination of strategies which can be used to deactivate coordinative residues and achieve high-yielding Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis. The chemistry is exemplified using α-conotoxin EpI, a native bicyclic disulfide-containing sequence isolated from the marine conesnail Conus episcopatus. Replacement of the loop I disulfide with E/Z-dicarba bridges was achieved with high conversion via solution-phase ring-closing metathesis of the unprotected linear peptide after simple chemoselective oxidation and ion-exchange masking of problematic functionality. Metathesis was also attempted in green solvent choices to further improve the sustainability of dicarba peptide synthesis.

Studies Towards the Total Synthesis of Populusone: Stereoselective Construction of Functionalized 2-Oxa-bicyclo[2.2.2]octenes

AbstractA short and efficient synthetic access to functionalized compounds displaying major structural elements of the natural product populusone is elaborated by exploiting a diastereoselective Mukaiyama aldol addition followed by a triflic anhydride-induced oxa-Michael addition to construct the sensitive 2-oxa-bicyclo[2.2.2]octene unit as an enol triflate, which is directly used in a subsequent Suzuki cross-coupling. While attempts to close the strained 10-membered ring by means of Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis were not successful, the developed synthetic scheme opens a rapid synthetic access to advanced intermediates, which may allow the completion of the total synthesis of populusone in the future.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of a novel macrocyclic anti-EV71 agent

We describe here the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a macrocyclic peptidomimetic as a potent agent targeting enterovirus A71 (EV71). The compound has a 15-membered macrocyclic ring in a defined conformation. Yamaguchi esterification reaction was used to close the 15-membered macrocycle instead of the typical Ru-catalyzed ring-closing olefin metathesis reaction. The crystallographic characterization of the complex between this compound and its target, 3C protease from EV71, validated the design and paved the way for the generation of a new series of anti-EV71 agents.

Aliphatic chain-containing macrocycles as diazonamide A analogs

Aliphatic alkyl chain-containing 12–14-membered macrocycles have been designed as structural analogs of antimitotic natural product diazonamide A. Macrocycles were synthesized from 5-bromooxazole in 7 to 9 linear steps using Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis as the key transformation. Heat effect of binding to α,β-tubulin tetramer (T4-RB3 complex) has been measured for the synthesized macrocycles by isothermal titration calorimetry method.

Cyclopropene-Templated Assembly of Medium Cycles via Ru-Catalyzed Ring-Closing Metathesis.

An expeditious click-click cyclize strategy for the assembly of medium-sized heterocyclic rings is described. The sequence involves the reaction of cycloprop-2-ene carboxylic acids with unsaturated amines to furnish amides, which are further subjected to a Cu-catalyzed directed carbomagnesiation and a ring-closing olefin metathesis reaction. This methodology allows for the efficient preparation of lactams with ring sizes up to 10.

Synthetic modifications of bifunctional homoallylamines: Synthesis of 2-arylpiperidines, (R)-anatabine and (R)-anabasine

The chiral homoallylamines with orthogonal bifunctional handle, an amine, and a pendant allyl unit are available to be easily converted into N-heterocycles. The N-allylation and Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis delivered the bioactive 2-arylpiperidines, Nicotiana tabacum alkaloids (R)-anatabine and (R)-anabasine in three steps. A formal synthesis of (R)-N-methylanatabine and (R)-N-methylanabasine is also completed.

Synergic effect of hydrogen bonding and dipole repulsion in the ring-closing metathesis of N-homoallyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamides

This study reveals that the Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis of N-homoallyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamides is promoted by substrate-catalyst hydrogen bonding as well as dipole repulsion between the electron-rich side-chain and the carbonyl group, providing clues for designing effective synthetic routes towards 5,6-dihydro-2(1H)-pyridinones.

A Stereoselective Synthesis of the ACE Inhibitor Trandolapril

A conceptually novel and stereoselective synthesis of the enantiopure octahydroindole building block and its conversion into the ACE inhibitor trandolapril was achieved. Key steps include the α-allylation of a protected l-pyroglutamic acid derivative, a highly diastereoselective Hosomi–Sakurai reaction and a Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis of a 4,5-diallylated proline. This way, the synthesis of trandolapril was efficiently achieved in 25% overall yield (12 steps).

Stereoselective Synthesis of Highly Functionalized 5- and 6-Membered Aminocyclitols Starting with a Readily Available 2-Azetidinone.

Stereoselective transformations of 4-vinyl-2-azetidinone derivative 4 into a variety of highly functionalized 6- and 5-membered carbocyclic compounds 7 and 9 were carried out using sequences involving sequential C1-N bond cleavage and Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis. The derived carbocycles were further transformed into polyhydroxylated 6- and 5-membered aminocyclitols.

Synthesis and vitamin D receptor affinity of 16-oxa vitamin D3 analogues.

Two novel 16-oxa-vitamin D3 analogues were synthesized using a tandem Ti(ii)-mediated enyne cyclization/Cu-catalyzed allylation, Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis reaction, and a low-valent titanium (LVT)-mediated stereoselective radical reduction of 8α,14α-epoxide as the key steps for the synthesis of the 16-oxa-C,D ring unit. The vitamin D receptor-binding affinity of the synthesized analogues, 16-oxa-1α,25-(OH)2VD3 and 16-oxa-19-nor-1α,25-(OH)2VD3, was evaluated by fluorescence polarization vitamin D receptor competitor assay and time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer vitamin D receptor co-activator assay.

Construction of a Sequenceable Protein Mimetic Peptide Library with a True 3D Diversifiable Chemical Space.

We present here a library of protein mimetic bicyclic peptides. These nanosized structures exhibit rigid backbones and spatially diversifiable side chains. They present modular amino acids on all three linkages, providing access to a true 3D diversifiable chemical space. These peptides are synthesized through a Cu-catalyzed click reaction and a Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis reaction. Their bicyclic topology can be reduced to a linear one, using Edman degradation and Pd-catalyzed deallylation reactions. The linearization approaches allow de novo sequencing through mass spectrometry methods. We demonstrate the function of a particular peptide that was identified through a high throughput screening against the E363-R378 epitope on the intrinsically disordered c-Myc oncoprotein. Intracellular delivery of this peptide could interfere with the c-Myc-mediated transcription and inhibit proliferation in a human glioblastoma cell line.

Development of a One-Pot Four C-C Bond-Forming Sequence Based on Palladium/Ruthenium Tandem Catalysis.

A one-pot four C-C bond-forming sequence has been developed using two distinct transition metal complexes. The sequence entails a double Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation followed by a Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis and a Pd-catalyzed Heck coupling. The use of various active methylene nucleophiles was examined with yields up to 76% (93% per C-C bond).

Synthesis of Selectively Substituted or Deuterated Indenes via Sequential Pd and Ru Catalysis.

A strategy for the synthesis of functionalized indenes is presented. The readily available substituted phenols are used as starting materials in the reaction sequence composed of Pd-catalyzed Suzuki coupling and Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis, thus representing a practical method for the controlled construction of functionalized indene derivatives. The methodology has been successfully applied to a broad range of substrates, producing substituted indenes in excellent yields. This approach is also utilized for the synthesis of substituted indenes selectively deuterated in position 3, which are rare in literature.

Synthesis of 1,2-Disubstituted Cyclopentadienes from Alkynes Using a Catalytic Haloallylation/Cross-Coupling/Metathesis Relay.

A three-step method based on Pd-catalyzed haloallylation of alkynes, Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling, and Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis constitutes a new and short approach to variety of 1,2-substituted cyclopentadienes. The scope of the method is broad with respect to different substituents (alkyl, aryl, metallocenyl, and other substituents as well as their combinations are tolerated), and all steps proceeded with sensible yields. As a demonstration of product utility, several of the prepared cyclopentadienes were converted into the corresponding ferrocenes.

A General Route to β-Substituted Pyrroles by Transition-Metal Catalysis.

An atom-efficient route to pyrroles substituted in the β-position has been achieved in four high yielding steps by a combination of Pd, Ru, and Fe catalysis with only water and ethene as side-products. The reaction is general and gives pyrroles substituted in the β-position with linear and branched alkyl, benzyl, or aryl groups in overall good yields. The synthetic route includes a Pd-catalyzed monoallylation step of amines with substituted allylic alcohols that proceeds to yield the monoallylated products in moderate to excellent yields. In a second step, unsymmetrical diallylated aromatic amines are generated from the reaction of a second allylic alcohol with high selectivity in moderate to good yields by control of the reaction temperature. Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis performed on the diallylated aromatic amines yields the pyrrolines substituted in the β-position in excellent yields. By addition of ferric chloride to the reaction mixture, a selective aromatization to yield the corresponding pyrroles substituted in the β-position was achieved. A reaction mechanism involving a palladium hydride, generated from insertion of palladium to O-H of an allyl alcohol, that is responsible for the C-O bond cleavage to generate the π-allyl intermediate is proposed.

Hydrogen bonding-promoted efficient Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis of demanding homoallyl 2-(hydroxymethyl)acrylates.

An efficient hydrogen bonding-guided ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction of sterically demanding homoallyl 2-(hydroxymethyl)acrylates catalyzed by the Hoveyda-Grubbs 2nd generation catalyst was developed and the reaction mechanism was explored. Adding a substituent to the hydroxymethyl group in this scaffold resulted in a class of challenging RCM substrates, although usable yields could be obtained. However, substrates bearing a 1-oxygenated alkyl group on the homoallylic carbon gave excellent RCM yields, providing a practical solution. Experimental and computational evidence indicated an unusual directing effect of OHCl hydrogen bonding between the substrate and Ru catalyst, which guides Ru to interact with the electron-deficient, more hindered acrylic C[double bond, length as m-dash]C bond and thus triggers the RCM process.

Solid-Phase Synthesis of Peptide Thioureas and Thiazole-Containing Macrocycles through Ru-Catalyzed Ring-Closing Metathesis

N-Terminally modified α-thiourea peptides can selectively be synthesized on solid support under mild reaction conditions using N,N'-di-Boc-thiourea and Mukaiyama's reagent (2-chloro-1-methyl-pyridinium iodide). This N-terminal modification applies to the 20 proteinogenic amino acid residues on three commonly used resins for solid-phase synthesis. Complementary methods for the synthesis of α-guanidino peptides have also been developed. The thiourea products underwent quantitative reactions with α-halo ketones to form thiazoles in excellent purities and yields. When strategically installed between two alkene moieties, said thiazole core was conveniently embedded in peptide macrocycles via Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis reactions. Various 15-17 membered macrocycles were easily accessible in all diastereomeric forms using this methodology. The developed "build/couple/pair" strategy is well suited for the generation of larger and stereochemically complete screening libraries of thiazole-containing peptide macrocycles.

Synthesis of Cyclic 1-Alkenylboronates via Zr-Mediated Double Functionalization of Alkynylboronates and Sequential Ru-Catalyzed Ring-Closing Olefin Metathesis

Synthesis of novel cyclic 1-alkenylboronates is accomplished through the zirconium-mediated regio- and stereoselective double functionalization of 1-alkynylboronates and the subsequent ruthenium-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis (RCM). The obtained substituted cyclic 1-alkenylboronates are transformed into o-terphenyl and triphenylene derivatives.

A Highly Convergent and Efficient Synthesis of a Macrocyclic Hepatitis C Virus Protease Inhibitor BI 201302

A highly convergent large scale synthesis of a 15-membered macrocyclic hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor BI 201302 was achieved, in which the key features are the practical macrocyclization by Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis (0.1 mol % Grela catalyst, 0.1-0.2 M concentration) and the efficient sulfone-mediated SNAr reaction.

Synthetic studies on strictamine: unexpected oxidation of tertiary amine in Ru-catalyzed ring-closing olefin metathesis

During synthetic studies toward strictamine, unexpected oxidation of tertiary amine to enamine was observed in ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) using Hoveyda–Grubbs 2nd catalyst. Control experiments under deoxygenated conditions indicated Ru-catalyst and electron deficient 1,4-benzoquinone additive promoted oxidation. The desired RCM reaction took place selectively under microwave irradiation by suppression of oxidation of amine.