[GRAPHICS]A new synthesis of o-methoxyphenol-containing polycyclic systems is described. Cyclobutene-containing 1,3,5-metallahexatrienes, obtained by [2 + 2] cycloaddition of cyclic enol ethers and chromium or tungsten alkynyl carbene complexes, undergo unexpected thermal benzannulation to provide access to a wide range of o-methoxy-substituted aromatic alcohols.
Regioselective Synthesis of Substituted <i>o</i>-Alkoxyphenol Derivatives through Thermal Benzannulation of Fischer (Alkenylcyclobutenyl)carbene Complexes
A convenient, regioselective, and general synthetic method for producing highly substituted o-phenol-containing polycycles from Fischer (alkenylcyclobutenyl)carbene complexes has been described. The starting complexes have been synthesized by means of the [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of (alkenylethynyl)carbene complexes and a range of enol ethers, and in most cases, they have proven to be stable