Hoveyda–Grubbs’ catalyst is able to catalyze crossed [2 + 2 + 2] cyclotrimerizations of diynes with nitriles. Pyridines are obtained with excellent yields when using activated nitriles and low to moderate yields with nonactivated nitriles which are unreactive under previously described ruthenium catalyzed reaction conditions. Both terminal and internal alkynes give the reaction using this experimental
Ruthenium carbene catalysts are able to catalyze crossed [2+2+2] cyclotrimerizations of alpha,omega-diynes with isocyanates, isothiocyanates, and carbon disulfide. Both aliphatic and aromatic isocyanates can be used to produce fused 2-pyridones, although aliphatic isocyanates were more reactive. Aromatic isocyanates give better results when they bear electron donating substituents. The reaction of unsymmetrical alpha,beta-diynes gave a product only with the substituent adjacent to the 2-pyridone nitrogen. Isothiocyanates gave thiopyranimines upon reaction with the C=S bond, whereas CS2 reacted efficiently to give a thioxothiopyrane.
Ruthenium Alkylidene-Catalyzed Reaction of 1,6-Heptadiynes with Alkenes
Ruthenium carbene catalysts are able to catalyze cross [2 + 2 + 2] cyclotrimerizations of 1,6-diynes with cyclic and acyclic double bonds. A plausible mechanistic competition is described in which electron-deficient alkenes follow similar pathways as those of other ruthenium catalysts previously utilized and produce mixtures of trienes and cyclohexadienes. On the contrary, allylethers give different isomers of the same final products, suggesting that a metathetic cascade pathway operates in these cases.
Second-generation Grubbs’ catalyst and Hoveyda-Grubbs’ catalyst are able to catalyze both crossed [2+2+2] cyclotrimerization of diynes with alkynes and di- or trimerizations of diynes. Selection of the reaction conditions allows us to favor one particular process. The process is selective when applied to unsymmetric diynes.