Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 16, 2025

Efficient Synthesis of All-Carbon Quaternary Centers via the Conjugate Addition of Functionalized Monoorganozinc Bromides
Published on: May 26, 2019
Rh-Catalyzed Atroposelective Single-Carbon Insertion
Bowen Li1, Valero G Alfonso1,2, Alessio Puggioli1,2
1Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ-CERCA), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Països Catalans 16, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
Abstract:
Single-carbon insertion processes have gained considerable momentum over the past few years. Although innovative methods have emerged for converting indole or indene into quinoline or naphthalene cores, the enantioselective version of such ring-expansions to create (hetero)biaryl atropisomers has not been developed. Herein, we report the first enantioselective single-carbon insertion that converts 3-aryl indoles to atropochiral quinolines. Key in the process was the generation of a chiral Rh-carbynoid that mediated in the creation of the stereogenic C(sp2)-C(sp2) axis.
Related Concept Videos
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution: Addition–Elimination (SNAr)
The reaction begins with an attack of the nucleophile on the carbon that holds the leaving group. This results in the delocalization of the π electrons over the ring carbons. The resonance interaction between...
Regioselectivity of Electrophilic Additions to Alkenes: Markovnikov's Rule
The hydrohalogenation of an unsymmetrical alkene can yield two haloalkane products, depending on which vinylic carbon takes up the halogen. However, one product usually predominates, where hydrogen adds to the vinylic carbon bearing the...
Radical Anti-Markovnikov Addition to Alkenes: Overview
Regioselectivity of Electrophilic Additions-Peroxide Effect
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Hydroboration
Hydroboration proceeds in a concerted fashion with the attack of borane on the π bond, giving a cyclic four-centered transition state. The –BH2 group is bonded to the less substituted carbon and –H to the more substituted carbon. The concerted nature requires the simultaneous addition of –H and –BH2 across the same face of the alkene giving syn...
Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution: Elimination–Addition

