We have focused our attention on cycloisomerization reactions involving silver-and gold-based homogeneous catalysis. This topic is divided into two parts: one relating to cycloisomerization with an allene group and the other with an alkyne group. In each case we have then studied different partners such as carbonyl/carboxy groups, imines, amides or alkenes. Reactions involving allene and alkyne systems as partners are also briefly reported, along with miscellaneous transformations. Our purpose is also to stimulate some dis-

The selective functionalization of carbon-carbon σ bonds is a synthetic strategy that offers uncommon retrosynthetic disconnections. Despite progress in C-C activation and its great importance, the development of asymmetric reactions lags behind. Rhodium(I)-catalyzed selective oxidative additions into enantiotopic C-C bonds in cyclobutanones are reported. Even operating at a reaction temperature of 130 °C, the process is characterized by outstanding enantioselectivity with the e.r. generally greater than 99.5:0.5. The intermediate rhodacycle is shown to react with a wide variety of tethered olefins to deliver complex bicyclic ketones in high yields.

An optimized ligand-controlled palladium-catalyzed allene synthesis starting from alkynes and aryl bromides giving rise to allene products in a simple and direct manner is described. The methodology is performed in an inter- and intramolecular fashion with unprecedented scope and excellent yields. Based on mechanistic investigations and on DFT calculations, the role played by the carboxylic additive (i.e., PivOH) in controlling the selectivity of the reaction is discussed, allowing us to propose an intramolecular base-assisted deprotonation (iBAD) mechanism for this process.

The development of unconventional ligand scaffolds is an important aspect to alter reaction pathways of transition-metal-catalyzed reactions. The nature of the counterion of cationic metal complexes plays an important role in the catalyst reactivity. We herein report a chiral anionic bidentate bis-phosphine ligand based on the popular phospholane scaffold. Subsequently, zwitterionic rhodium(I) complexes with no external counterion were synthesized, and their potential was evaluated in asymmetric carbon−carbon bond activation of cyclobutanones. This type of rhodium complex allows for a significantly lower reaction temperature than analogous cationic rhodium complexes and enables, for the first time, asymmetric transformations with up to 93.5:6.5 enantiomeric ratio.

Silver-catalyzed tandem acetalization and cycloisomerization reactions were found to lead to various furoquinolines, and a nitrogen effect was noticed for AgOTf reactivity, since the cyclization mode switched from 6-endo-dig to 5-exo-dig; from these observations silver imidazolate polymer is proposed as a stable silver catalyst.

The selective functionalization of carbon-carbon s bonds is a synthetic strategy that offers uncommon retrosynthetic disconnections. Despite progress in CÀC activation and its great importance, the development of asymmetric reactions lags behind. Rhodium(I)-catalyzed selective oxidative additions into enantiotopic C À C bonds in cyclobutanones are reported. Even operating at a reaction temperature of 130 8C, the process is characterized by outstanding enantioselectivity with the e.r. generally greater than 99.5:0.5. The intermediate rhodacycle is shown to react with a wide variety of tethered olefins to deliver complex bicyclic ketones in high yields.Scheme 1. Asymmetric reactions involving a CÀC bond cleavage step.

Catalytic asymmetric transformations operating by carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds cleavages have emerged as intriguing strategies to access transient organometallic species from different reaction pathways. The reactions and the applicable substrate range have expanded considerably over the last decade. This overview covers the main developments in this field. A major focus is placed on β-carbon eliminations of strained tert-alcohols and related processes which have been shown to be particularly versatile in a broad range of transformations. Furthermore, exciting developments of asymmetric processes based on direct oxidative C-C bond insertion reactions, for instance into the acyl C-C bond of ketones or the C-CN bond of nitriles, are discussed.

A family of furoquinolines were efficiently obtained through a tandem acetalization/cycloisomerization process catalyzed by (5 mol%) silver imidazolate polymer and triphenylphosphine, and diversity was brought by the use of 7 different alcohol groups. From these furoquinolines, 3 examples of reduced derivatives could be obtained (d.r. up to 94 : 6), 10 different spiroketal derivatives by hetero-Diels-Alder reaction (d.r. up to 20 : 1), 8 hetero-[5,5]-spirocycles by cycloaddition with dibromoformaldoxime (d.r. up to 86 : 14) and finally 6 hetero-[5,6]-spirocycles by [4 + 2] cycloaddition with ethyl 3-bromo-2-(hydroxyimino)propanoate (d.r. up to 90 : 10).