A new approach to polycyclic azonia cations by ring-closing metathesis.

ABSTRACT

The ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction of N-vinyl-alpha-(2-styryl)azinium salts, using the Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst, leads to different tricyclic and tetracyclic azonia cations with moderate to good yields. This is the first time that a highly electron-deficient alkene such as an N-vinylpyridinium has been involved in an RCM process.