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DOI: 10.1055/a-2657-1791
Ring-Opening Metathesis of Benzene Induced by Rare-Earth Metallacycles
This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (no. 2021YFF0701600), National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 22371006, 22131001, 21725201, 21890721) and Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS-CXXM-202401).
Supported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China 21725201,21890721,22131001,22371006
Supported by: Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences BNLMS-CXXM-202401
Abstract
Activation of inert C–C bonds in arenes remains a formidable challenge in synthetic chemistry. Despite advances in arene C–C bond activation, metathesis transformations of aromatic C–C bonds remain largely unexplored. Recently, we uncovered a rare-earth metal-enabled intramolecular metathesis between a benzene C–C bond and a C–C single bond, assisted by the high reactivity and synergistic effect of rare-earth metallacycles. Mechanistic studies reveal a stepwise [2+2] cycloaddition/cycloreversion sequence via a fused tricyclic intermediate. This transformation expands the chemical space of arene reactivity, providing a rare example of aromatic ring-opening metathesis through a noncarbene pathway.
Publication History
Received: 04 June 2025
Accepted after revision: 14 July 2025
Article published online:
01 August 2025
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