Alkene and enyne metathesis reactions on allylic and propargylic amines

Treatment of cis-4,5-diaminocyclohexene derivatives bearing allyl or propargyl groups on the nitrogen atoms, with first or second generation Grubbs metathesis catalysts, results in initiation of metathesis cascades which include ring-opening of the unstrained cyclohexene ring. This contrasts with the previous work on the analogous cyclohexene ethers where metathesis reactions occurred exclusively between the side-chains and no ring-opening of the cyclohexene unit was observed.