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Related Concept Videos

Reactivity of Enols01:18

Reactivity of Enols

Enols are a class of compounds where a hydroxyl group is attached to a carbon–carbon double bond, which implies that it is a vinyl alcohol. A carbonyl compound with an α hydrogen undergoes keto–enol tautomerism and remains in equilibrium with its tautomer, the enol form. Usually, the keto tautomer is present in a higher concentration than the enol tautomer due to the higher bond energy of C=O compared to C=C. Moreover, the direction of the keto–enol equilibrium is governed by factors like...
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation02:17

Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation

Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes is a transition-metal catalyzed reduction of the double bond using molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. The mode of hydrogen addition follows syn stereochemistry.
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Enamine Formation Mechanism01:14

Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Enamine Formation Mechanism

Enamine formation involves the addition of carbonyl compounds to a secondary amine through a series of reactions. The mechanism begins with the generation of carbinolamine, a nucleophilic attack followed by several proton transfer reactions. The hydroxyl group of the carbinolamine is converted into water to make a better leaving group that can push the reaction forward by eliminating a water molecule. In enamine formation, the last step involves the abstraction of a proton from the α carbon to...
Dehydration of Aldols to Enals: Base-Catalyzed Aldol Condensation01:14

Dehydration of Aldols to Enals: Base-Catalyzed Aldol Condensation

This lesson delves into the aldol condensation catalyzed by bases, where aldols undergo dehydration to enals. As shown in Figure 1, the β-hydroxy aldehyde formed in a base-catalyzed aldol addition reaction dehydrates on heating to yield an unsaturated carbonyl product, which is commonly referred to as an enal.
Synthesis of α-Substituted Carbonyl Compounds: The Stork Enamine Reaction01:26

Synthesis of α-Substituted Carbonyl Compounds: The Stork Enamine Reaction

α-Substituted ketones or aldehydes can be synthesized from enamines by the Stork enamine reaction, named after its pioneer Gilbert Stork. Enamines are useful synthetic intermediates where the lone pair on nitrogen is in conjugation with the C=C bond. They resemble enolate ions, as the resonance forms of both species have a nucleophilic α carbon.
α-Alkylation of Ketones via Enolate Ions01:10

α-Alkylation of Ketones via Enolate Ions

Ketones with α protons are deprotonated by strong bases like lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) to form enolate ions. The anion is stabilized by resonance, and its hybrid structure exhibits negative charges on the carbonyl oxygen and the α carbon. This ambident nucleophile can attack an electrophile via two possible sites: the carbonyl oxygen, known as O-attack, or the α carbon, known as C-attack. The nucleophilic attack via the carbanionic site is preferred. This is due to the strong interaction...

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Updated: May 14, 2026

A Two-Step Protocol for Umpolung Functionalization of Ketones Via Enolonium Species
08:12

A Two-Step Protocol for Umpolung Functionalization of Ketones Via Enolonium Species

Published on: August 16, 2018

Remote Functionalization of Enals Through a Single-Electron Pathway in NHC Catalysis.

Guihua Nie1, Qingqing Guo1, Chengjiang Fang1

  • 1The Key Laboratory of Chemical Synthesis and Environmental Pollution Control-Remediation Technology of Guizhou Province, Minzu Normal University of Xingyi, Xingyi, Guizhou, China.

Chemistry, an Asian Journal
|May 13, 2026
PubMed
Summary

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) enable remote functionalization of enals through radical pathways. This review details NHC-catalyzed reactions for site-selective modifications and diverse cyclizations.

Keywords:
N‐heterocyclic carbeneSET oxidationremote functionalization of enalssingle‐electron redox processes

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Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization
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Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

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Palladium N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis from Benzimidazolium Salts and Catalytic Activity in Carbon-carbon Bond-forming Reactions
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Palladium N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis from Benzimidazolium Salts and Catalytic Activity in Carbon-carbon Bond-forming Reactions

Published on: July 30, 2017

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Last Updated: May 14, 2026

A Two-Step Protocol for Umpolung Functionalization of Ketones Via Enolonium Species
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Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization
12:19

Photogeneration of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Application in Photoinduced Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

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Palladium N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis from Benzimidazolium Salts and Catalytic Activity in Carbon-carbon Bond-forming Reactions
19:58

Palladium N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis from Benzimidazolium Salts and Catalytic Activity in Carbon-carbon Bond-forming Reactions

Published on: July 30, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Catalysis

Background:

  • N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are potent organocatalysts.
  • NHCs activate carbonyl compounds and enable remote functionalization of enals via radical intermediates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review recent advances in NHC-catalyzed remote functionalization of enals.
  • To discuss reaction mechanisms and categorize them by NHC catalytic cycles.

Main Methods:

  • Review of literature on NHC-catalyzed reactions.
  • Analysis of single-electron redox processes in enal functionalization.
  • Categorization based on NHC catalytic cycles.

Main Results:

  • NHCs facilitate site-selective functionalization at various positions (β, γ, ε) of enals.
  • Diverse reactions including hydroxylation, arylation, alkylation, and cyclizations are achieved.
  • Common oxidants like ArNO2, CBr4, Togni I, and photoredox catalysis are employed.

Conclusions:

  • NHC-catalyzed remote functionalization of enals is a versatile synthetic strategy.
  • Understanding the mechanisms enhances the development of novel catalytic systems.
  • This approach offers efficient pathways for complex molecule synthesis.