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Exploring the Limits of π‐Acid Catalysis Using Strongly Electrophilic Main Group Metal Complexes: The Case of Zinc and Aluminium
Author(s) -
Tian Jiaxin,
Chen Yan,
Vayer Marie,
Djurovic Alexandre,
Guillot Régis,
Guermazi Refka,
Dagorne Samuel,
Bour Christophe,
Gandon Vincent
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.202001376
Subject(s) - electrophile , cationic polymerization , catalysis , chemistry , carbene , lewis acids and bases , zinc , aluminium , ligand (biochemistry) , main group element , metal , lewis acid catalysis , polymer chemistry , medicinal chemistry , organic chemistry , transition metal , biochemistry , receptor
The catalytic activity of cationic NHC‐Zn II and NHC‐Al III (NHC=N‐heterocyclic carbene) complexes in reactions that require the electrophilic activation of soft C−C π bonds has been studied. The former proved able to act as a soft π‐Lewis acid in a variety of transformations. The benefit of the bulky IPr NHC ligand was demonstrated by comparison with simple ZnX 2 salts. The tested NHC‐Al III catalyst is not able to activate C−C π bonds but simple AlX 2 + ions were found potent in some cases.