RESUMEN
A microchemical system for ethenolysis of renewable methyl oleate was developed, in which the dual-phase, microfluidic design enabled efficient diffusion of ethylene gas into liquid methyl oleate through an increased contact area. The increased mass transfer of ethylene favored the formation of desired commodity chemicals with significantly suppressed homometathesis when compared to the bulk system. In addition to higher selectivity and conversion, this system also provides the typical advantages of a microchemical system, including the possibility of convenient scale-up.
RESUMEN
Two triethoxysilyl-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligands have been synthesized and used to prepare the corresponding second-generation ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts. These complexes were then grafted onto silica gel, and the resulting materials were efficient heterogeneous catalysts for a number of metathesis reactions. The solid-supported catalysts were shown to be recyclable over a number of reaction cycles, and no detectable levels of ruthenium were observed in reaction filtrates (ruthenium concentration of filtrate <5 ppb).
RESUMEN
The nigellamine alkaloids are dolabellane diterpenes displaying potent lipid metabolism-promoting activity. Total synthesis of (+)- and (-)-nigellamine A2 has been accomplished. Absolute stereochemistry of synthetic nigellamine A2 was established through an intramolecular asymmetric allylic alkylation using a Pd(phosphinooxazoline) catalyst. Other notable transformations include a radical alkynylation, a diastereoselective Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi cyclization, and a regio- and stereoselective catalytic epoxidation. On the basis of X-ray crystallographic analysis of an optically active intermediate, we have confirmed the assigned absolute stereochemistry of the natural product. Minor modifications of the synthetic sequence outlined here should provide access to the other nigellamine alkaloids.