Teaching Metathesis 'Simple' Stereochemistry

摘要

Background: Transition metal-catalyzed alkene metathesis has revolutionized organic synthesis during the last two decades, even though the commonly used catalysts do not provide kinetic control over the stereochemistry of the newly formed double bonds. It is of utmost importance to fix this shortcoming, because the olefin geometry not only determines the physical and chemical properties of the alkene products but is also innately linked to any biological activities that the olefins may have.