Counterattack reagents in organic synthesis: versatility and efficiency

Abstract

The concept of ‘counterattack reagents’ has been applied in the development of various chemical transformations. The use of counterattack reagents allows complicated reactions to be accomplished in a single flask without the isolation of intermediates. Thus multistep transformations can be simplified to ‘one-step’ operations. Representative examples of applications illustrated herein include oxidation, reduction, C–C single and double bond formation, cyclization, C–Si bond formation, O- and N-silylations and allylsilylation, as well as dealkylation. Comparisons are made between the results from traditional and ‘counterattack’ methods. Examples also include the utilization of ‘pseudo-counterattack’ and ‘intramolecular counterattack’ strategies in organic synthesis. The ‘counterattack reagents’ involved in those reactions are often, but not limited to, silicon-containing compounds.