Construction of building-blocks for polyether synthesis using sequential catalytic ring-closing enyne and cross metathesis

Highly functionalised six- and seven-membered cyclic ethers bearing a variety of side chains have been synthesised using ring-closing enyne metathesis and subsequent cross metathesis of the intermediate diene; one-pot enyne and cross metathesis has also been accomplished, allowing ring construction and side chain introduction to be performed in a single operation.