Stereoselectivity in the cross-metathesis of oct-1-ene and cis- or trans-oct-2-ene

Abstract

The yields and the initial ratios of cis and trans geometries of non-2-ene, tridec-6-ene, or tetradec-7-ene, formed by the cross-metathesis of oct-1-ene and cis- or trans-oct-2-ene catalyzed by tungsten hexachloride–tetraphenyltin (A), hexaphenoxytungsten–ethylaluminium dichloride (B), or tungsten hexachloride–triethylaluminium (C), have been correlated to the interactions of alkyl substituents on tungstacyclobutane. The results strongly suggest that the 2,4-interaction, between the alkyl substituent on C² and the tungsten moiety, plays an important part in determining the distribution of products.