Cross-metathesis assisted by microwave irradiation.

Microwave irradiation effectively accelerates cross-coupling metathesis reactions between deactivated olefins. Reactions have been carried out with the phosphine-free Hoveyda-Grubbs catalyst and the "second generation Grubbs' catalyst." While there have been reports that a "microwave effect" is observed in various transformations, the accelerations we observe are due to the efficient and rapid heating and increased pressure in the microwave apparatus.

Tandem cross-metathesis/hydrogenation/cyclization reactions by using compatible catalysts.

[reaction: see text] A one-pot tandem cross-metathesis/hydrogenation/cyclization procedure was achieved at room temperature, under 1 atm of hydrogen, in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst and PtO(2) showing the compatibility of the two catalysts. This tandem reaction allows the synthesis of substituted lactones and lactols from acrylic acid and acrolein, respectively, in the presence of unsaturated alcohols.