Abstract:
The present invention is directed to methods for oxidizing internal olefins to ketones. In various embodiments, each method comprising contacting an organic substrate, having an initial internal olefin, with a mixture of (a) a biscationic palladium salt; and (b) an oxidizing agent; dissolved or dispersed in a solvent system to form a reaction mixture, said solvent system comprising at least one C2-6 carbon nitrile and optionally at least one secondary alkyl amide, said method conducted under conditions sufficient to convert at least 50 mol % of the initial internal olefin to a ketone, said ketone positioned on a carbon of the initial internal olefin. The transformation occurs at room temperature and shows wide substrate scope. Applications to the oxidation of seed oil derivatives and a bioactive natural product are described.
Abstract:
Ruthenium and osmium carbene compounds that are stable in the presence of a variety of functional groups and can be used to catalyze olefin metathesis reactions on unstrained cyclic and acyclic olefins are disclosed-of the formula where M is Os or Ru; R1 is hydrogen; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, and substituted or unsubstituted aryl; X and X1 are independently selected from any anionic ligand; and L and L1 are independently selected from any neutral electron donor. The ruthenium and osmium carbene compounds of the present invention may be synthesized using diazo compounds, by neutral electron donor ligand exchange, by cross metathesis, using acetylene, using cumulated olefins, and in a one-pot method using diazo compounds and neutral electron donors. The ruthenium and osmium carbene compounds may be used to catalyze olefin metathesis reactions.