Preparation of Aliphatic Ketones through a Ruthenium-Catalyzed Tandem Cross-Metathesis/Allylic Alcohol Isomerization

Grubbs' 2nd generation and Hoveyda−Grubbs' ruthenium alkylidenes are shown to be effective catalysts for cross-metatheses of allylic alcohols with cyclic and acyclic olefins, as well as isomerization of the resulting allylic alcohols to alkyl ketones. The net result of this new tandem methodology is a single-flask process that provides highly functionalized, ketone-containing products from simple allylic alcohol precursors.