A one-pot metathetic ring opening of substituted bicyclo[3.2.0]heptenones to linear polyene ketones is described. The reaction proceeds with conservation of the endocyclic (Z)-double bond. Exo-substituted vinylcyclobutanones result in (4Z,6E)-configured trienones, while endo-substituted phenyl derivatives generate (4Z,6Z)-configured dienones.

SummaryThe fused 2-vinyl or 2-phenyl substituted cyclobutanones 4 undergo stereoselective ring openings by the action of alkoxide ions (t-BuO− or MeO−) to produce novel vicinally disubstituted cycloalkene derivatives 5 and 6 in moderate to high yields. The ring cleavage usually occurs with complete regioselectivity. The accessibility of γ,δ-unsaturated ester or acid derivatives makes this transformation a good supplementary method for the well-established Johnson–Claisen rearrangement.

A novel metathetic cycloreversion of 7‐vinyl‐ and 7‐aryl‐bicyclo[3.2.0]heptenones is described giving rise to linear polyene ketones with high selectivity.