Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 19, 2026
C–C Bond Cleavage: Retro-Aldol Reaction
Catalytic Cleavage of C(sp2)-C(sp2) Bonds with Rh-Carbynoids
Zhaofeng Wang1, Liyin Jiang1, Pau Sarró1
1Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) , The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Països Catalans 16 , 43007 Tarragona , Spain.
Abstract:
We report a catalytic strategy that generates rhodium-carbynoids by selective diazo activation of designed carbyne sources. We found that rhodium-carbynoid species provoke C(sp2)-C(sp2) bond scission in alkenes by inserting a monovalent carbon unit between both sp2-hybridized carbons. This skeletal remodeling process accesses synthetically useful allyl cation intermediates that conduct to valuable allylic building blocks upon nucleophile attack. Our results rely on the formation of cyclopropyl-I(III) intermediates able to undergo electrocyclic ring-opening, following the Woodward-Hoffmann-DePuy rules.
Related Concept Videos
C–C Bond Cleavage: Retro-Aldol Reaction
In the first step, as depicted in Figure 1, the base deprotonates the β-hydroxy ketone at the hydroxyl group to form an alkoxide ion.
Rh Blood Group
Cleavage and Blastulation
19:58Palladium N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis from Benzimidazolium Salts and Catalytic Activity in Carbon-carbon Bond-forming Reactions
Bond Energies and Bond Lengths
Catalytic Reactor: Hydrogenation of Ethylene
The hydrogenation of ethylene (C2H4) to ethane (C2H6) has often been studied as a model reduction reaction in characterizing new metal catalysts.1-2 While supported nickel is not the most active metal catalyst for this reaction, it is active enough that reaction can take place at < 200°C.
The reaction typically involves adsorbed, dissociated hydrogen (H2)...
