Olefin metathesis is now one of the most efficient ways to create new carbon-carbon bonds. While most efforts focused on the development of ever-more efficient catalysts, a particular attention has recently been devoted to developing latent metathesis catalysts, inactive species that need an external stimulus to become active. This furnishes an increased control over the reaction which is crucial for applications in materials science. Here, we report our work on the development of a new system to achieve visible-light-controlled metathesis by merging olefin metathesis and photoredox catalysis. The combination of a ruthenium metathesis catalyst bearing two N-heterocyclic carbenes with an oxidizing pyrylium photocatalyst affords excellent and spatial resolution using only visible light as stimulus. Applications of this system in synthesis, as well as in polymer patterning and photolithography with spatially-resolved ROMP, are described.

Keteniminium ions have been demonstrated to be remarkably useful and versatile reactive intermediates in chemical synthesis. These unique heterocumulenes are pivotal electrophilic species involved in a number of efficient and selective transformations. More recently, even more reactive ‘activated’ keteniminium ions bearing an additional electron-withdrawing group on the nitrogen atom have been extensively investigated. The chemistry of these unique reactive intermediates, including representative methods for their in situ generation, will be overviewed in this review article.1 Introduction2 The Chemistry of Keteniminium Ions3 The Chemistry of Activated Keteniminium Ions4 Keteniminium Ions: Pivotal Intermediates for the Synthesis of Natural and/or Biologically Relevant Molecules5 Conclusions and Perspectives

The alkylation of arenes is one of the most fundamental transformations in chemical synthesis leading to privileged scaffolds in many areas of science. Classical methods for the introduction of alkyl groups to arenes are mostly based on the Friedel-Crafts reaction, radical additions, metallation or pre-functionalization of the arene: these methods however suffer from limitations in scope, efficiency and selectivity. Moreover, they are based on the innate reactivity of the starting arene, favoring the alkylation at a certain position and rendering the introduction of alkyl chains at other positions much more challenging. This can be addressed by the use of a directing group facilitating, in the presence of a metal catalyst, the regioselective alkylation of a C-H bond. These directed alkylations of C-H bonds in arenes are overviewed, in a comprehensive manner, in this review article.

Alkylated arenes are ubiquitous molecules and building blocks commonly utilized in most areas of science where there is a need for small organic molecules. Despite its apparent simplicity, the regioselective alkylation of arenes is still a challenging transformation in a lot of cases. Classical methods for the introduction of alkyl groups on arenes, which include the venerable Friedel-Crafts reaction, radical additions, metallation or pre-functionalization of the arene, as well as alternatives such as the directed alkylation of C-H bonds, still suffer from severe limitations in terms of scope, efficiency and selectivity. This can be addressed by exploiting the innate reactivity of some (hetero)arenes, in which electronic and steric properties, governed (or not) by the presence of one (or multiple) heteroatom(s) ensure high levels of regioselectivity. These innate alkylations of C-H bonds in (hetero)arenes will be overviewed, in a comprehensive manner, in this review article.

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