Rhodium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of alkenyl isocyanates and alkynes

In 1923, G. N. Lewis proposed a generalized definition of acid-base behavior in which acids and bases are identified by their ability to accept or to donate a pair of electrons and form a coordinate covalent bond.
A coordinate covalent bond (or dative bond) occurs when one of the atoms in the bond provides both bonding electrons. For example, a coordinate covalent bond occurs when a water molecule combines with a hydrogen ion to form a hydronium ion. A coordinate covalent bond also results when...

In 1923, the Brønsted–Lowry definition of acids and bases was proposed by Johannes Brønsted and Thomas Lowry. According to this theory, a Brønsted acid is defined as a species that donates a proton in a chemical reaction and gets converted to its conjugate base. A Brønsted base is defined as a species that accepts a proton in a chemical reaction and gets converted into its conjugate acid. These transfers of protons are caused by the displacement of electrons in these reactions, which is...

This lesson delves into Lewis acids and bases in the context of the octet rule for electron-deficient compounds. Here, the concept is discussed, emphasizing the group 13 elements like boron or aluminium. Since group 13 elements possess three valence electrons, they form trivalent compounds with a sextet of electrons and a vacant orbital for the central atom. Consequently, these electron-deficient compounds accept electrons from other species to complete their octet in a chemical reaction. They...

As depicted in Figure 1, base-catalyzed aldol addition involves adding two carbonyl compounds in aqueous sodium hydroxide to form a β-hydroxy carbonyl compound.

The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the generated carbocation,...

The aldol reaction of a ketone under acidic conditions successfully forms an unsaturated carbonyl as the final product instead of an aldol. The acid-catalyzed aldol reaction is depicted in Figure 1.