Catalytic alkene cross-coupling

Abstract

Catalysis Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) from a metal-hydride complex to an alkene, which produces a free radical responsible for subsequent bond formation, is becoming an increasingly useful type of alkene coupling reaction. Using kinetic, spectroscopic, and computational analyses, Kim et al. pinpoint the key organometallic species and proton-coupled electron transfer steps responsible for regulating selectivity and reactivity in this reaction class. They explain several observations that were previously incomprehensible and demonstrate the intimate involvement of metal species throughout the catalytic cycle. The methods for the present mechanistic work may be applicable to various HAT alkene coupling reactions and should be useful for more expedient design of metal catalysts. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 141 , 7473 (2019).