Rhodium-Catalyzed C–C Bond Activation

Keywords

C–C bond activation - rhodium catalysis - decarbonylation - skeletal editing

Significance

Ito and co-workers reported a highly selective activation of C–C bonds in strained ketones under rhodium catalysis. The initial report and its follow-up (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 8285) ushered in a wave of C–C bond activation under transition-metal catalysis and serve as an inspiration in the field of activation of traditionally inert bonds.

 

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Comment

In the initial report, the catalytic decarbonylative transformations were inefficient due to formation of a stable Rh–CO species. The initial solution was to use stoichiometric Wilkinson’s catalyst. Subsequently, electron-rich triphenylarsine was used, but the reaction remained sluggish.

 

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Publication History

Article published online:
27 August 2025