Ruthenium-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of diynols

A wide variety of diynols containing tertiary, secondary, and primary propargylic alcohols undergo a cycloisomerization reaction to form dienones and dienals in the presence of a catalytic amount of [CpRu(CH3CN)(3)]PF6. The formation of five- and six-membered rings is possible using this methodology. Secondary diynols react to form single geometrical isomeric dienones and -als. Primary diynols undergo a cycloisomerization as well as a hydrative cyclization process. The utility of primary diynol cycloisomerization is demonstrated in a synthesis of (+)-alpha-kainic acid.