Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Isolating Free Carbenes, their Mixed Dimers and Organic Radicals
Published on: April 19, 2019
Carbene-catalyzed enantioselective oxidative coupling of enals and di(hetero)arylmethanes
Qiao Chen1, Tingshun Zhu1, Pankaj Kumar Majhi1
1Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry , School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences , Nanyang Technological University , Singapore 637371 , Singapore .
Abstract:
Di(hetero)arylmethane is a unique structural motif for natural and synthetic functional molecules. To date, it remains challenging to functionalize the diaryl methyl sp3 carbon-hydrogen bond directly in an enantioselective manner. This is likely due to the relatively inert nature of the carbon-hydrogen bond and the difficult enantiofacial discrimination of two sterically similar aryl substituents. Here we disclose an N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed direct oxidative coupling of enals and di(hetero)arylmethanes. Our method allows for highly enantioselective transformation of diaryl methanes and quick access to benzimidazole fused lactams.
More Related Videos
08:25Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks MOFs
Published on: January 17, 2020
19:58Palladium N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis from Benzimidazolium Salts and Catalytic Activity in Carbon-carbon Bond-forming Reactions
Published on: July 30, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Dehydration of Aldols to Enals: Base-Catalyzed Aldol Condensation
Pyruvate Oxidation
First, the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase removes the carboxyl group from pyruvate and releases it as carbon dioxide. The stripped molecule is then oxidized and releases electrons, which are then picked up by NAD+...
Oxidation Numbers
Spin–Spin Coupling: Two-Bond Coupling (Geminal Coupling)
The central atom need not be NMR-active because its electrons are affected by the electron polarization of the spin-active atoms. However, spin information is transmitted less effectively than in one-bond coupling, and 2J values are usually weaker than 1J values. The energy of...
Spin–Spin Coupling: Three-Bond Coupling (Vicinal Coupling)
The extent of coupling depends on the C‑C bond length, the two H‑C‑C angles, any electron-withdrawing substituents, and the dihedral angle between the involved orbitals. The...
Oxidation-Reduction Reactions