Every element possesses unique properties. The cutting-edge perspectives of elementary
organochemistry generally center around basic synthesis. Fourteen respected authors
have assessed the current status of elementary organochemistry, with an emphasis on
identifying the key advances being made or on those that are needed, as well as providing
an outlook. Their perspectives, represented by current literature including key contributors
and references, primarily serve to inspire and help direct future research efforts.
With 14 elements involved, namely boron, silicon, sulfur, selenium, chlorine, bromine,
iodine, magnesium, titanium, chromium, manganese, gold, iridium and uranium, the perspectives
in this SYNLETT Cluster analyze the progress made with these elements in organic chemistry.
The perspective on boron briefly describes the most recent progress on organoboron
chemistry, with a focus on new boron molecules and their applications that have attracted
significant interest from mainstream chemists.[1] Silicon is viewed from the perspective of catalytic hydrosilylation and the synthesis
of silicon-stereogenic silanes.[2] Sulfur is introduced with several new reaction methods that utiylize sulfur-mediated
reactions triggered by sulfonium salts and ylides, highlighting the interplay of rational
design and serendipity.[3] Selenium is highlighted from the perspective of recent key advances in selenium
catalysis, selenonium catalysis, selenium-based chalcogen bonding catalysis, and Lewis
basic selenium catalysis.[4] Chlorine is briefly analyzed in such areas as its general properties, recent advances
in its introduction and applications to organic solar cells (OSCs), a short discussion
of current questions regarding chlorination in OSCs and its future developments in
this area.[5] Bromine is discussed from the perspective of recent advancements in C–Br bond-forming
reactions.[6] Iodine is assessed from a number of recent research results and the future of hypervalent
iodine chemistry.[7] Magnesium is described from the current progress on the development of in situ generated
magnesium catalysts and their application in asymmetric synthesis.[8] Titanium is summarized from the radical dehydroxylative transformation of alcohols,
either promoted or catalyzed by titanium, and from the point of view of studies in
this field.[9] Chromium draws attention from recent advances on Cr-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions
offering selective strategies for molecule construction, and the ability of low-valent
Cr with a high-spin state to participate in the process of two-electron oxidative
addition.[10] Manganese attracts focus from recent progress on manganese-catalyzed C(sp2)–H addition to polar unsaturated bonds.[11] Gold is evaluated from recent progress on gold-catalyzed formal annulations of ynamides
with isoxazole derivatives as nitrene-transfer reagents via α-imino gold carbenes
in the atom-economic and rapid construction of N-heterocycles.[12] The work on iridium explores a novel (pentamethylcyclopenta-1,3-dienyl)iridium(III)-catalyzed
direct C–H functionalization of triarylphosphine oxides with diazo dicarbonyl compounds
through carbene insertion.[13] Uranium is presented from the perspective of the most recent advances on photoredox
transformations enabled by uranyl salts.[14]
This special collection of perspectives provides a comprehensive review of flourishing
elementary chemistry in organic synthesis and is expected to be a valuable resource
for elementary organochemistry professionals. The target groups can be scientists,
researchers and graduate students in organic chemistry and element chemistry, as well
as those who are interested in these fourteen types of element. I really appreciate
the work of the many colleagues who have contributed their expertise to this SYNLETT
Cluster.
Xuefeng Jiang
Shanghai, China
June 2021
