Synlett 2004(7): 1312-1314  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-825605
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Hydrovinylation of Dienoates: Model Studies Directed Toward the C10-C18 Segment of Ambruticin

Zhengjie He, Chae S. Yi*, William A. Donaldson*
Department of Chemistry, Marquette University, P. O. Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, USA
Fax: +1(414)2887066; e-Mail: william.donaldson@marquette.edu;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 16 March 2004
Publication Date:
19 May 2004 (online)

Abstract

The ruthenium-catalyzed hydrovinylation of 2,4-dienoates 3 proceeds in a regioselective fashion to give 4-alkyl-2,5-dienoates 4 in good yields. Olefin cross-metathesis of a vinylcyclopropane with 4e demonstrates a synthetic route to the C10-C18 ­segment of ambruticin.

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General Procedure: A 25 mL medium walled vacuum Schlenk tube equipped with stirring bar and Teflon stopcock was charged with degassed dienoate 3a (386 mg, 3.45 mmol), catalyst 1 (16.0 mg, 1.82 × 10-4 mmol), and CH2Cl2 (4.0 mL) in a nitrogen-filled glove box. The tube was removed from the glove box, cooled in a liquid N2 bath, and excess ethylene (ca. 13 mmol) was condensed into the tube. The tube was stoppered, removed from the liquid N2 bath, warmed to r.t., and immersed in a 75 °C oil bath. (CAUTION: These conditions result in an increase in pressure in the medium wall reaction vessel. Heating of the reaction flask should be conducted in a fume hood behind a closed safety sash). After 10 h, the reaction tube was cooled to r.t., and the tube opened to the air. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by column chromatography (hexanes-Et2O, 10:1) to give 4a as a colorless oil (290 mg, 61%). 1H NMR (CDCl3) δ = 6.95 (dd, J = 6.8, 15.8 Hz, 1 H), 5.82-5.72 (m, 2 H), 5.09-5.03 (m, 2 H), 3.74 (s, 3 H), 3.08-3.01 (m, 1 H), 1.18 (d, J = 6.9 Hz, 3 H). 13C NMR (CDCl3): δ = 167.0, 152.0, 139.9, 119.6, 114.7, 51.5, 40.1, 18.9. Anal. Calcd for C8H12O2: C, 68.54; H, 8.63. Found: C, 68.39; H, 8.59.

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14: 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ = 7.15-7.05 (m, 6 H), 6.94-6.91 (m, 4 H), 5.74 (dd, J = 0.9, 9.9 Hz, 1 H), 5.66 (dd, J = 6.6, 15.3 Hz, 1 H), 5.41 (dd, J = 7.6, 15.3 Hz, 1 H), 4.23 (q, J = 7.2 Hz, 2 H), 3.93 (m, 1 H), 2.51 (d, J = 5.7 Hz, 2 H), 2.31 (m, 1 H), 1.95 (s, 3 H), 1.35 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 3 H), 1.15 (d, J = 6.6 Hz, 3 H). 13C NMR (CDCl3): δ = 167.2, 145.1, 137.1, 132.4, 130.1, 128.3, 127.2, 125.2, 60.3, 36.4, 33.1, 29.4, 21.3, 21.0, 14.9. FAB-HRMS: m/z [M + Li+] calcd for C25H28O2Li: 367.2249; found: 367.2263.