Exploring the Limits of π‐Acid Catalysis Using Strongly Electrophilic Main Group Metal Complexes: The Case of Zinc and Aluminium
Jiaxin Tian, Yan Chen, Marie Vayer, Alexandre Djurovic, Régis Guillot, Refka Guermazi, Samuel Dagorne, Christophe Bour, Vincent Gandon
Abstract
Abstract The catalytic activity of cationic NHC‐Zn II and NHC‐Al III (NHC=N‐heterocyclic carbene) complexes in reactions that require the electrophilic activation of soft C−C π bonds has been studied. The former proved able to act as a soft π‐Lewis acid in a variety of transformations. The benefit of the bulky IPr NHC ligand was demonstrated by comparison with simple ZnX 2 salts. The tested NHC‐Al III catalyst is not able to activate C−C π bonds but simple AlX 2 + ions were found potent in some cases.
Topics & Concepts
ElectrophileCationic polymerizationCatalysisChemistryCarbeneLewis acids and basesZincAluminiumLigand (biochemistry)Main group elementMetalLewis acid catalysisPolymer chemistryMedicinal chemistryOrganic chemistryTransition metalReceptorBiochemistryCatalytic Alkyne ReactionsCyclopropane Reaction MechanismsCatalytic C–H Functionalization Methods