Ruthenium-Catalyzed Polycyclization Reactions

Abstract

The application of ruthenium alkylidenes such as 1 to the catalysis of polycyclization reactions is reported. Several acyclic precursors have been synthesized and reacted with 1. These precursors vary in topology and contain acetylenic and/or cycloolefinic metathesis relays. The cyclization reactions proceed in moderate to good yields to produce polycyclic polyenes when the precursors are subjected to catalytic amounts of 1. In general, precursors bearing n relay units generate polycycles containing (n + 1) rings.