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1. Copper‐Catalyzed C(sp ³ )−H α‐Acetylation: Generation of Quaternary Centers

   https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202418692  

   Okoromoba, Otome_E; Chen, Ting‐An; Jang, Eun_Sil; McMullin, Claire_L; Cundari, Thomas_R; Warren, Timothy_H (November 2024, Angewandte Chemie International Edition)

   Abstract α‐substituted ketones are important chemical targets as synthetic intermediates as well as functionalities in natural products and pharmaceuticals. We report the α‐acetylation of C(sp³)−H substrates R−H with arylmethyl ketones ArC(O)Me to provide α‐alkylated ketones ArC(O)CH₂R at RT with^tBuOO^tBu as oxidant via copper(I) ‐diketiminato catalysts. Proceeding via alkyl radicals R•, this method enables α‐substitution with bulky substituents without competing elimination that occurs in more traditional alkylation reactions between enolates and alkyl electrophiles. DFT studies suggest the intermediacy of copper(II) enolates [Cu^II](CH₂C(O)Ar) that capture alkyl radicals R• to give R−CH₂C(O)Ar outcompeting dimerization of the copper(II) enolate to give the 1,4‐diketone ArC(O)CH₂CH₂C(O)Ar. 

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2. Homolytic Pd ^II –C Bond Cleavage in the MILRad Process: Reversibility and Termination Mechanism

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.3c00277  

   Poli, Rinaldo; Nguyen, Dung; Liu, Yu-Sheng; Harth, Eva (August 2023, Organometallics)

   This work probed the thermal “switchability” from ethylene coordination/insertion to controlled radical polymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) for Brookhart-type α-diimine PdII catalysts. The investigation focused on the extremely bulky 2,6-bis(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-4-methylphenyl (Xyl4Ph) α-diimine N-substituents to probe reversible PdII–C bond activation in the MA-quenched Pd-capped PE intermediate and reversible trapping during radical MA polymerization. The substituent steric effect on the relative stability of various [PE–MA–PdII(ArN═CMeCMe═NAr)]+ chain-end structures and on the bond dissociation-free energy (BDFE) for the homolytic PdII–C bond cleavage has been assessed by DFT calculations at the full quantum mechanics (QM) and QM/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods. The structures comprise ester-chelated forms with the Pd atom bonded to the α, β, and γ C atoms as a result of 2,1 MA insertion into the PE–Pd bond and of subsequent chain walking, as well as related monodentate (ring-opened) forms resulting from the addition of MA or acetonitrile. The opened Cα-bonded form is electronically favored for smaller N-substituents, including 2,6-diisopropylphenyl (Dipp), particularly when MeCN is added, but the open Cγ-bonded form is preferred for the extremely bulky system with Ar = Xyl4Ph. The Pdα–C bond is the weakest one to cleave, with the BDFE decreasing as the Ar steric bulk is increased (31.8, 25.8, and 12.6 kcal mol–1 for Ph, Dipp, and Xyl4Ph, respectively). However, experimental investigations on the [PE–MA–PdII(ArN═CMeCMe═NAr)]+ (Ar = Xyl4Ph) macroinitiator do not show any evidence of radical formation under thermal activation conditions, while photolytic activation produces both TEMPO-trapped (TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy) and unsaturated MA-containing PE chains. The DFT investigation has highlighted a low-energy pathway for termination of the PE–MA• radicals by disproportionation, promoted by β-H elimination/dissociation and H-atom abstraction from the PdII–H intermediate by a second radical. This phenomenon appears to be the main reason for the failure of this PdII system to control the radical polymerization of MA by the OMRP (OMRP = organometallic-mediated radical polymerization) mechanism. 

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3. A Heterogeneous Palladium Catalyst for the Polymerization of Olefins Prepared by Halide Abstraction Using Surface R ₃ Si ⁺ Species

   https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202117279  

   Gao, Jiaxin; Dorn, Rick W.; Laurent, Guillaume P.; Perras, Frédéric A.; Rossini, Aaron J.; Conley, Matthew P. (March 2022, Angewandte Chemie International Edition)

   Abstract The silylium‐like surface species [ⁱPr₃Si][(R^FO)₃Al−OSi≡)] activates (N^N)Pd(CH₃)Cl (N^N=Ar−N=CMeMeC=N−Ar, Ar=2,6‐bis(diphenylmethyl)‐4‐methylbenzene) by chloride ion abstraction to form [(N^N)Pd−CH₃][(R^FO)₃Al−OSi≡)] (1). A combination of FTIR, solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, and reactions with CO or vinyl chloride establish that1shows similar reactivity patterns as (N^N)Pd(CH₃)Cl activated with Na[B(Ar^F)₄]. Multinuclear¹³C{²⁷Al} RESPDOR and¹H{¹⁹F} S‐REDOR experiments are consistent with a weakly coordinated ion‐pair between (N^N)Pd−CH₃⁺and [(R^FO)₃Al−OSi≡)].1catalyzes the polymerization of ethylene with similar activities as [(N^N)Pd−CH₃]⁺in solution and incorporates up to 0.4 % methyl acrylate in copolymerization reactions.1produces polymers with significantly higher molecular weight than the solution catalyst, and generates the highest molecular weight polymers currently reported in copolymerization reactions of ethylene and methylacrylate. 

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4. Regioreversed Carbosulfenylation of Fluoroalkenes via Nickel‐Mediated Radical Sorting

   https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202509664  

   Zhu, Chuan; Liu, Qian; Wang, Nannan; Ma, Rui; Chen, Kai; Walsh, Patrick_J; Guo, Kai; Feng, Chao (June 2025, Angewandte Chemie International Edition)

   Abstract Carbosulfenylation of olefins represents an important class of reactions for the synthesis of structurally diverse organosulfur compounds. Previous studies typically yield 1,2‐regioselectivity. In the context of diversity‐oriented synthesis, accessing the regioreversed products is desirable, significantly broadening the scope of these reactions. In this study, we report a nickel‐catalyzed 2,1‐carbosulfenylation of trifluoromethyl‐ andgem‐difluoroalkenes, using free thiols and benzyl bromides as sulfur and carbon sources, respectively. The unusual regioselectivity observed is enabled by a “radical sorting” mechanism. The Ni catalyst activates benzyl bromide to generate a benzylic radical that undergoes hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) with the thiol to form a sulfur‐centered radical. The sulfur radical subsequently adds to the fluoroalkenes, resulting in an α‐fluoroalkyl C‐radical. This radical undergoes S_H2 with a Ni–CH₂Ar to form a C(sp³)─C(sp³) bond and quaternary center, ultimately producing valuable fluoroalkyl thioethers. Isotopic labeling experiments corroborate a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) event within the working mechanism. 

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5. Ynamide and Azaalleneyl. Acid‐Base Promoted Chelotropic and Spin‐State Rearrangements in a Versatile Heterocumulene [(Ad)NCC( ^t Bu)] ⁻

   https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202401433  

   Russell, John_B; Jafari, Mehrafshan_G; Kim, Jun‐Hyeong; Pudasaini, Bimal; Ozarowski, Andrew; Telser, Joshua; Baik, Mu‐Hyun; Mindiola, Daniel_J (April 2024, Angewandte Chemie International Edition)

   Abstract We introduce the heterocumulene ligand [(Ad)NCC(^tBu)]⁻(Ad=1‐adamantyl (C₁₀H₁₅),^tBu=tert‐butyl, (C₄H₉)), which can adopt two forms, the azaalleneyl and ynamide. This ligand platform can undergo a reversible chelotropic shift using Brønsted acid‐base chemistry, which promotes an unprecedented spin‐state change of the [V^III] ion. These unique scaffolds are prepared via addition of 1‐adamantyl isonitrile (C≡NAd) across the alkylidyne in complexes [(BDI)V≡C^tBu(OTf)] (A) (BDI⁻=ArNC(CH₃)CHC(CH₃)NAr), Ar=2,6‐ⁱPr₂C₆H₃) and [(dBDI)V≡C^tBu(OEt₂)] (B) (dBDI²⁻=ArNC(CH₃)CHC(CH₂)NAr). ComplexAreacts with C≡NAd, to generate the high‐spin [V^III] complex with a κ¹‐N‐ynamide ligand, [(BDI)V{κ¹‐N‐(Ad)NCC(^tBu)}(OTf)] (1). Conversely,Breacts with C≡NAd to generate a low‐spin [V^III] diamagnetic complex having a chelated κ²‐C,N‐azaalleneyl ligand, [(dBDI)V{κ²‐N,C‐(Ad)NCC(^tBu)}] (2). Theoretical studies have been applied to better understand the mechanism of formation of2and the electronic reconfiguration upon structural rearrangement by the alteration of ligand denticity between1and2. 

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