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Updated: Jun 1, 2025

Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
Cu(OTf)2-catalyzed multicomponent reactions
Sara Colombo1, Camilla Loro1, Egle M Beccalli2
1Dipartimento di Scienza e Alta Tecnologia, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 9, 22100, Como, Italy.
Abstract:
This review reports the achievements in copper(II) triflate-catalyzed processes concerning the multicomponent reactions, applied to the synthesis of acyclic and cyclic compounds. In particular, for the heteropolycyclic systems mechanistic insights were outlined as well as cycloaddition and aza-Diels-Alder reactions were included. These strategies have gained attention due to their highly atom- and step-economy, one-step multi-bond forming, mild reaction conditions, low cost and easy handling.
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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.
Reaction Mechanisms
For instance, the decomposition of ozone appears to follow a mechanism with two steps:

