Ring Closing Metathesis Reaction Planning

February 23, 2010

Ring closing metathesis (RCM) has evolved into one of those coveted “predictable” reactions in organic synthesis. Sure, there are things that can go wrong, but for forming unstrained rings, it’s a great way to go.
Substrate selection
As with any time using a Grubbs catalyst system, you want to avoid certain functional groups. Coordinating groups (basic amines, [...]

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Ruthenium Removal After Metathesis Reactions

February 18, 2010

Knight, D. W.; Morgan, I. R.; Proctor, A. J. A simple oxidative procedure for the removal of ruthenium residues Tetrahedron Lett. 2010, 51, 638-640.
A very simple procedure was described recently by David Knight and coworkers for the removal of ruthenium after metathesis reactions. The process involves simply stirring the crude metathesis reaction solution with excess 15% [...]

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ortho-Tolyl 2nd Generation Grubbs Catalyst

February 16, 2010

ortho-Tolyl 2nd Generation Grubbs Catalyst1
(Ph = phenyl)
- CAS#: [927429-60-5]
- FW: 793.28
- Color: Brown
- Initiation temperature: >20 °C

Process
Strengths
Weaknesses

CM
-hindered alpha olefins
-trisubstituted olefins

RCM
-sterically hindered di- and tri-substituted olefins
-tetrasubstituted olefins
 

 
This catalyst was the product of a rational design effort to make catalysts that were efficient at forming tetrasubstituted olefins by RCM. The free ortho position on the phenyl [...]

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