Activation of otherwise inert bonds has significant potential in the design of efficient and synthetically useful transformations. While general catalytic carbon–carbon single bond activations are still in their infancy, this emerging area examines recent developments in the activation of strained rings, focusing on enantioselective reactions.
A review, with 19 references, covering recent advances in enantioselective activation of strained carbon–carbon bonds catalysed by rhodium and palladium complexes.