Cross metathesis with strained exocyclic enones and the synthesis of 3-alkylidene-2-methyleneoxetanes

ORGN 679

Amy R. Howell, amy.howell@uconn.edu and Ravinder Raju, ravinder.raju@uconn.edu. Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269
3-Alkylideneoxetan-2-ones 2 have been prepared in good to excellent yields with high Z-selectivity by olefin cross metathesis with 3-methyleneoxetan-2-ones 1 in the presence of second generation metathesis catalysts. The corresponding 3-alkylidene-2-methyleneoxetanes 3 have been prepared by treating 2 with dimethyltitanocene.