Issue 40, 2023

Carbon–carbon bond activation by Mg, Al, and Zn complexes

Abstract

Examples of carbon–carbon bond activation reactions at Mg, Al, and Zn are described in this review. Several distinct mechanisms for C–C bond activation at these metals have been proposed, with the key C–C bond activation step occurring by (i) α-alkyl elimination, (ii) β-alkyl elimination, (iii) oxidative addition, or (iv) an electrocyclic reaction. Many of the known pathways involve an overall 2-electron redox process. Despite this, the direct oxidative addition of C–C bonds to these metals is relatively rare, instead most reactions occur through initial installation of the metal on a hydrocarbon scaffold (e.g. by a cycloaddition reaction or hydrometallation) followed by an α-alkyl or β-alkyl elimination step. Emerging applications of Mg, Al, and Zn complexes as catalysts for the functionalisation of C–C bonds are also discussed.

Graphical abstract: Carbon–carbon bond activation by Mg, Al, and Zn complexes

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
30 6 2023
Accepted
13 9 2023
First published
14 9 2023
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2023,14, 11012-11021

Carbon–carbon bond activation by Mg, Al, and Zn complexes

J. M. Parr and M. R. Crimmin, Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 11012 DOI: 10.1039/D3SC03336H

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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