Gold-catalyzed cyclo-isomerization of 1,6-diyne-4-en-3-ols to form naphthyl ketone derivatives.

We report a new efficient gold-catalyzed cyclization of 1,6-diyne-4-en-3-ols to give naphthyl ketone derivatives under ambient conditions. The value of this cyclization is reflected by its applicability to a wide range of alcohol substrates.

Gold-catalyzed intramolecular [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of arenyne-yne functionalities.

We report a new efficient intramolecular [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of unactivated arenyne (or enyne)-yne functionalities, catalyzed mainly by the AuPPh3SbF6 complex (2 mol %) under ambient conditions. The value of this cyclization is reflected by its applicability to a wide range of diyne substrates bearing various functional groups.

Thermal and metal-catalyzed cyclization of 1-substituted 3,5-dien-1-ynes via a [1,7]-hydrogen shift: development of a tandem aldol condensation-dehydration and aromatization catalysis between 3-en-1-yn-5-al units and cyclic ketones.

This work investigates the feasibility of thermal and catalytic cyclization of 6,6-disubstituted 3,5-dien-1-ynes via a 1,7-hydrogen shift. Our strategy began with an understanding of a structural correlation of 3,5-dien-1-ynes with their thermal cyclization efficiency. Thermal cyclization proceeded only with 3,5-dien-1-ynes bearing an electron-withdrawing C(1)-phenyl or C(6)-carbonyl substituent, but the efficiencies were generally low (20-40% yields). On the basis of this structure-activity relationship, we conclude that such a [1,7]-hydrogen shift is characterized by a "protonic" hydrogen shift, which should be catalyzed by pi-alkyne activators. We prepared various 6,6-disubstituted 3,5-dien-1-ynes bearing either a phenyl or a carbonyl group, and we found their thermal cyclizations to be greatly enhanced by RuCl(3), PtCl(2), and TpRuPPh(3)(CH(3)CN)(2)PF(6) catalysts to confirm our hypothesis: the C(7)-H acidity of 3,5-dien-1-ynes is crucial for thermal cyclization. To achieve the atom economy, we have developed a tandem aldol condensation-dehydration and aromatization catalysis between cycloalkanones and special 3-en-1-yn-5-als using the weakly acidic catalyst CpRu(PPh(3))(2)Cl, which provided complex 1-indanones and alpha-tetralones with yields exceeding 65% in most cases. The deuterium-labeling experiments reveal two operable pathways for the metal-catalyzed [1,7]-hydrogen shift of 3,5-dien-1-ynes. Formation of alpha-tetralones d(4)-56 arises from a concerted [1,7]-hydrogen shift, whereas benzene derivative d(4)-9 proceeds through a proton dissociation and reprotonation process.

Ruthenium-catalyzed regioselective 1,3-methylene transfer by cleavage of two adjacent sigma-carbon-carbon bonds: an easy and selective synthesis of highly substituted benzenes.

We report a new ruthenium-catalyzed 6-endo-dig cyclization of 6,6-cycloalkylidenyl-3,5-dien-1-ynes, which produces highly substituted benzenes with considerable structural reorganization. In this process, we observe a regioselective 1,3-methylene migration via extrusion from a cycloalkylidenyl ring, in addition to a regiocontrolled 1,2-alkyl migration. This cyclization provides an easy and convenient synthesis of complex benzenes bearing various different substituents.

Ruthenium-catalyzed aromatization of aromatic enynes via the 1,2-migration of halo and aryl groups: a new process involving electrocyclization and skeletal rearrangement.

The halo and aryl substituents of the 1,2-disubstituted styryl group of aromatic enynes undergo a 1,2-shift in the aromatization reaction catalyzed by TpRuPPh3(CH3CN)2PF6 (10 mol %) in toluene (110 degrees C, 6-8 h). The aryl group shifts to the neighboring olefin carbon, and the iodo (or bromo) substituent migrates to the terminal alkyne carbon. The mechanisms of these two migrations have been elucidated by isotope labeling experiments. It indicates that the 1,2-aryl shift arises from 5-endo-dig electrocyclization of a ruthenium-vinylidene species, whereas the 1,2-iodo shift follows a 6-endo-dig pathway.

Efficient synthesis of functionalized furans via ruthenium-catalyzed cyclization of epoxyalkyne derivatives.

Ruthenium catalyst TpRuPPh(3)(CH(3)CN)(2)Cl is found to effect the cyclization of epoxyalkynes to furans in the presence of Et(3)N. The reactions worked well for various epoxyalkynes with suitable oxygen and nitrogen functionalities with low loading of catalyst. It failed with disubstituted epoxyalkynes. The mechanism was elucidated by a deuterium labeling experiment that suggested that the mechanism involved a ruthenium-vinylidenium intermediate.