Ruthenium hydride-promoted dienyl isomerization: Access to highly substituted 1,3-dienes

Ruthenium hydrides were found to promote the positional isomerization of 1,3-dienes into more highly substituted 1,3-dienes in a stereoconvergent manner. The reaction can be conducted in one pot starting with terminal alkynes and alkenes by triggering decomposition of the Grubbs catalyst into a ruthenium hydride, which promotes the dienyl isomerization. The presence of an alcohol additive plays a helpful role in the reaction, significantly increasing the chemical yields. Mechanistic studies are consistent with hydrometalation of the geminally substituted alkene of the 1,3-diene and transit of the ruthenium atom across the diene framework via a π-allylruthenium intermediate.