New Tandem Catalysis:  Preparation of Cyclic Enol Ethers through a Ruthenium-Catalyzed Ring-Closing Metathesis−Olefin Isomerization Sequence

Abstract

Tandem reactions that proceed with a single metal catalyst precursor offer novel opportunities for developing efficient new reaction sequences. In this regard, reaction conditions have been identified that allows for a tandem ring-closing metathesis-olefin isomerization sequence catalyzed by a common ruthenium precursor. Specifically, the tandem process generates cyclic enol ethers from a variety of readily available acyclic dienes in a single reaction vessel using Grubbs' ruthenium alkylidene.