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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization
Published on: November 29, 2018
Recent advances in carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions involving homoenolates generated by NHC catalysis
Vijay Nair1, Sreekumar Vellalath, Beneesh Pattoorpadi Babu
1Organic Chemistry Section, NIIST-CSIR (Formerly Regional Research Laboratory), Trivandrum 695 019, India. vijaynair_2001@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Homoenolate, a species containing anionic carbon beta to a carbonyl group or a moiety that can be transformed into a carbonyl group, is a potential three carbon synthon. Recent introduction of a protocol for the generation of homoenolate directly from enals by NHC (nucleophilic heterocyclic carbene) catalysis has made it possible to explore the synthetic utility of this unique reactive intermediate. The versatility of NHC-bound homoenolate is illustrated by its annulation with various carbonyl compounds leading to gamma-butyrolactones, spiro-gamma-butyrolactones, and delta-lactones. Interception of homoenolate with imines afforded gamma-lactams and bicyclic beta-lactams. Formation of cyclopentenes and spirocyclopentanones respectively by reaction with enones and dienones is also noteworthy. This tutorial review focuses on these and other types of reactions which attest to the synthetic potential of NHC-bound homoenolates in organic synthesis.
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