Z- and Enantioselective Ring-Opening/Cross-Metathesis with Enol Ethers Catalyzed by Stereogenic-at-Ru Carbenes: Reactivity, Selectivity, and Curtin–Hammett Kinetics

The first instances of Z- and enantioselective Ru-catalyzed olefin metathesis are presented. Ring-opening/cross-metathesis (ROCM) reactions of oxabicyclic alkenes and enol ethers and a phenyl vinyl sulfide are promoted by 0.5–5.0 mol % of enantiomerically pure stereogenic-at-Ru complexes with an aryloxy chelate tethered to the N-heterocyclic carbene. Products are formed efficiently and with exceptional enantioselectivity (>98:2 enantiomer ratio). Surprisingly, the enantioselective ROCM reactions proceed with high Z selectivity (up to 98% Z). Moreover, reactions proceed with the opposite sense of enantioselectivity versus aryl olefins, which afford E isomers exclusively. Preliminary DFT calculations in support of Curtin–Hammett kinetics as well as initial models that account for the stereoselectivity levels and trends are provided.