Development of Novel Catalytic Reactions via Ruthenium-Allenylidene Complexes as Key Intermediates

Abstract

Our recent studies on catalytic reactions via ruthenium-allenylidene complexes are reviewed from the viewpoint of organic synthesis. Thiolate-bridged diruthenium complexes work as efficient catalysts to promote a variety of novel organic transformations, especially propargylic substituion reactions, via allenylidene complexes as key intermediates. The asymmetric version of these reactions is also described together with some mononuclear ruthenium complex-catalyzed related reactions by other groups.