The consecutive ring-closing enyne metathesis of allylsilyl propargyl ethers with Grubbs’ ruthenium-alkylidene catalyst, followed by rhenium oxide mediated 1,4-elimination of the Si-O moiety from the siloxenes, provides [3]- and [4]dendralenes in good yields.
dendralenes - enynes - ring-closing metathesis - 1,4-eliminations - rhenium oxide