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Updated: Oct 21, 2025

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Copper-Catalyzed Conjugate Addition of Carbonyls as Carbanion Equivalent via Hydrazones
Siyi Luo1, Marie Peng1, Pierre Querard1
1Department of Chemistry and FRQNT Centre for Green Chemistry and Catalysis, McGill University, 801 Sherbrook Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8, Canada.
Abstract:
Copper-catalyzed conjugate addition is a classic method for forming new carbon-carbon bonds. However, copper has never showed catalytic activity for umpolung carbanions in hydrazone chemistry. Herein, we report a facile conjugate addition of hydrazone catalyzed by readily available copper complexes at room temperature. The employment of mesitylcopper(I) and electron-rich phosphine bidentate ligand is a key factor affecting reactivity. The reaction allows various aromatic hydrazones to react with diverse conjugated compounds to produce 1,4-adducts in yields of about 20 to 99%.
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