Pd-Catalyzed Formal [2 + 2]-Retrocyclization of Cyclobutanols via 2-Fold Csp3-Csp3 Bond Cleavage

In this work, we describe the unexpected 2-fold Csp3-Csp3 bond cleavage suffered by cyclobutanols in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)2 and promoted by the bulky biaryl JohnPhos ligand. Overall, the sequential cleavage of a strained and an unstrained Csp3-Csp3 bond leads to the formal [2 + 2]-retrocyclization products, namely, styrene and acetophenone derivatives. This procedure might enable the use of cyclobutanols as masked acetyl groups, resisting harsh conditions in organic synthesis.

Cleavage of Carbon-Carbon σ-Bonds of Four-Membered Rings

This article reviews synthetic transformations involving cleavage of a carbon-carbon bond of a four-membered ring, with a particular focus on the examples reported during the period from 2011 to the end of 2019. Most significant is the progress of catalytic reactions involving oxidative addition of carbon-carbon bonds onto transition metals or β-carbon elimination of transition metal alkoxides. When they are looked at from synthetic perspectives, they offer unique and efficient methods to build complex natural products and structures that are difficult to construct by conventional methods. On the other hand, β-scission of radical intermediates has also attracted increasing attention as an alternative elementary step to cleave carbon-carbon bonds. Its site-selectivity is often complementary to that of transition metal-catalyzed reactions. In addition, Lewis acid-mediated and thermally induced ring-opening of cyclobutanone derivatives has garnered renewed attention. On the whole, these examples demonstrate unique synthetic potentials of structurally strained four-membered ring compounds for the construction of organic skeletons.

Recent Methodologies That Exploit C-C Single-Bond Cleavage of Strained Ring Systems by Transition Metal Complexes

In this review, synthetic and mechanistic aspects of key methodologies that exploit C-C single-bond cleavage of strained ring systems are highlighted. The focus is on transition-metal-catalyzed processes that are triggered by C-C bond activation and β-carbon elimination, with the review concentrating on developments from mid-2009 to mid-2016.