Reaction mechanisms: polar reactions

Abstract

This review presents highlights from papers published in 2010 reporting the mechanistic studies of polar reactions across a diverse range of fields, and is primarily focussed on experimental investigations. A number of examples related to biological systems are included, where the reaction mechanisms are often both complicated and enhanced by supramolecular factors. The breadth of modern physical organic chemistry means that the subheadings used throughout the review should be used as guidelines, as for many studies it is possible to categorise them in a number of different ways.