Alkenes represent one of the most abundant classes of organic molecules, which are available in bulk quantities from petroleum and renewable resources, with various utilization in agrochemistry, pharmacy, and organic materials. Typically, the transformation of alkenes by cleavage of both the σ bond and π bond underpins a range of industrial processes and provides methods for the reconstruction of hydrocarbon framework.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Photocatalytic carboxylation of aryl alkenes with CO 2 via cleavage of C=C double bonds has been developed. This process involves aminomethyl-carboxylation intermediate, benzylic radicals and carbanions as key intermediates, delivering a variety of aryl acetic acids in moderate to good yields. Credit: Chinese Journal of Catalysis Oxidative cleavage is undoubtedly the most common type of scissions of alkene C=C bonds, providing a practical synthetic route to oxygen-enriched compounds. Besides, alkene metathesis represents an alternative method that involves cleavage of alkene C=C bonds and their reformation, resulting in a statistical redistribution of alkylidene fragments under redox-neutral conditions. While oxidative C=C bond cleavage and alkene metathesis have been extensively investigated, reductive C=C bond cleavage, which might provide a huge opportunity for reactions with different electrophiles to generate valuable compounds with diverse functionality, has rarely been investigated. Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is an ideal C1 synthon for the synthesis of a variety…