Lewis acid promoted double bond migration in O-allyl to Z-products by Ru-H complexes

In catalytic double bond migration reaction, E -configuration olefins were normally generated as the dominant product because E -configuration was thermodynamically favored. However, Z-configuration products are sometimes desired in pharmaceutical chemistry owing to the structure-activity relationship. In this paper, we have demonstrated a new strategy that Lewis acid promoted an widely employed and convenient ruthenium(II) complex for the catalytic isomerization of O-allylethers, leading to thermodynamic-unfavored Z-product under mild conditions. The model substrate of allyl phenyl ether can be simply scaled up to 20 mmol to produce Z-product with TON of 2453 and TOF of 13,430 h −1 at 40–60 °C. The system of Ru(II)/Lewis Acid catalysts was suitable for various substituted O -allylethers and other types of substrates. Through mechanism study including kinetic study, ligand inhibition effect and molecular spectroscopy, the dissociation of PPh 3 ligand by the addition of Lewis acid, and the formation a five-membered Ru complex from anchimeric assistance were both recognized as essential steps to improve the reactivity and to control the stereoselectivity of catalytic double bond migration reaction through metal hydride addition-elimination mechanism. This new strategy may provide a new opportunity to produce thermodynamic-unfavored product in heterocyclic compounds for pharmaceutical chemistry.