Cycloaddition of carbonyl compounds and alkynes to (di)silenes and (di)germenes: Reactivity and mechanism

Authors

Kaarina K. Milnes, The University of Western Ontario
Laura C. Pavelka, The University of Western Ontario
Kim M. Baines, The University of Western OntarioFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-21-2016

Journal

Chemical Society Reviews

Volume

45

Issue

4

First Page

1019

Last Page

1035

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1039/c5cs00522a

Abstract

The chemistry of silenes, germenes, disilenes and digermenes has been extensively studied over the last 35 years; however, not much is known about the mechanisms of many of the fundamental reactions of this class of compounds, including cycloadditions. This review describes the current understanding of the reaction pathways for the cycloaddition of carbonyl compounds and alkynes to (di)tetrelenes. The question of whether or not the cycloaddition reactions of (di)tetrelenes follow the Woodward-Hoffman rules, established for alkenes and alkynes, is addressed.