Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026

A Two-Step Protocol for Umpolung Functionalization of Ketones Via Enolonium Species
Published on: August 16, 2018
From cationic to anionic helicenes: new reactivity through umpolung
David Conreaux1, Nathalie Mehanna, Christelle Herse
1Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest Ansermet, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
Highly stable chiral carbenium ions are converted into reactive carbanions using a novel two-step reduction/metalation method. This process enables umpolung reactions, yielding polar ketone and thioamide products while preserving helical backbone configuration.
Area of Science:
- Organic Chemistry
- Stereochemistry
Background:
- Chiral carbenium ions are typically electrophilic.
- Generating nucleophilic species from stable carbocations is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for transforming stable chiral carbenium ions into reactive carbanion intermediates.
- To achieve umpolung reactivity with retention of stereochemical configuration.
Main Methods:
- A two-step reduction/metalation sequence was employed.
- The reaction was applied to highly stable chiral carbenium ions.
Main Results:
- Reactive carbanion intermediates were successfully generated.
- Umpolung was achieved, leading to the formation of polar ketone and thioamide products.
- Complete retention of the helical backbone's configuration was observed.
Conclusions:
- The developed method provides a novel route to carbanions from carbenium ions.
- This strategy allows for umpolung reactivity with excellent stereochemical control.
- The findings have implications for the synthesis of complex chiral molecules.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Thermal and Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Overview
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism
Electrophilic Addition to Alkynes: Halogenation
Halogenation is another class of electrophilic addition reactions where a halogen molecule gets added across a π bond. In alkynes, the presence of two π bonds allows for the addition of two equivalents of halogens (bromine or chlorine). The addition of the first halogen molecule forms a trans-dihaloalkene as the major product and the cis isomer as the minor product. Subsequent addition of the second equivalent yields the tetrahalide.
Thermal Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Thermal Activation
Conjugated systems containing an even number of π-electron pairs undergo a conrotatory ring closure. For example, thermal electrocyclization of (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadiene, a conjugated diene containing two π-electron pairs, gives trans-3,4-dimethylcyclobutene.
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations: Structural Overview
Removing one hydrogen from the intervening CH2 group with both...
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

