The invention a novel, general, and facile strategy for the creation of small molecules with high structural and stereochemical complexity. Aspects of the methods include ring system distortion reactions that are systematically applied to rapidly convert readily available natural products to structurally complex compounds with diverse molecular architectures. Through evaluation of chemical properties including fraction of sp.sup.3 carbons, ClogP, and the number of stereogenic centers, these compounds are shown to be significantly more complex and diverse than those in standard screening collections. This approach is demonstrated with natural products (gibberellic acid, adrenosterone, and quinine) from three different structural classes, and methods are described for the application of this strategy to any suitable natural product.

The present application provides, among other things, compounds and methods for metathesis reactions. In some embodiments, provided compounds promote highly efficient and highly Z-selective metathesis. In some embodiments, provided compounds and methods are particularly useful for producing allyl alcohols. In some embodiments, provided compounds have the structure of formula I. In some embodiments, provided compounds comprise ruthenium, and a ligand bonded to ruthenium through a sulfur atom.

The present application provides, among other things, compounds and methods for metathesis reactions. In some embodiments, provided compounds promote highly efficient and highly Z-selective metathesis. In some embodiments, provided compounds and methods are particularly useful for producing allyl alcohols. In some embodiments, provided compounds have the structure of formula I. In some embodiments, provided compounds comprise ruthenium, and a ligand bonded to ruthenium through a sulfur atom.

The current invention describes new metathesis catalysts, a method for their preparation and their use in metathesis reactions.

The current invention describes new metathesis catalysts, a method for their preparation and their use in metathesis reactions.

Catalyst materials for olefin metathesis reactions. The catalyst materials comprise a ruthenium phosphinimine complex. The ruthenium phosphinimine may be synthesized without bound N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) or phosphine ligands, thereby providing significant advantageous in conversion, selectivity, and stability compared to existing ruthenium-based catalysts.

A process of converting a carbon-carbon multiple bond to a cyclopropane ring, comprising the addition of a N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound to a mixture of alkene precursor, aqueous base and Pd(II)-catalyst, with the N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound obtained directly from an alkyl amine derivative, NaNO.sub.2 and an acid via phase separation of the N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound from the aqueous phase.

A process of converting a carbon-carbon multiple bond to a cyclopropane ring, comprising the addition of a N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound to a mixture of alkene precursor, aqueous base and Pd(II)-catalyst, with the N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound obtained directly from an alkyl amine derivative, NaNO.sub.2 and an acid via phase separation of the N-alkyl-N-nitroso compound from the aqueous phase.

A process for the hydrocyanation of an organic compound containing at least one olefinic group comprising reacting the organic compound with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a catalyst complex comprising a bidentate phosphite ligand having one of the following structures: (I) and (II) and at least one transition metal.

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