Recent approaches in which at least two metal or main-group centres are involved in the homologation of CO are reviewed.

The formation of carbon chains by the coupling of COx (X = 1 or 2) units on transition metals is a fundamental step relevant to Fischer-Tropsch catalysis. Fischer-Tropsch catalysis produces energy dense liquid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas (CO and H2) and has been a mainstay of the energy economy since its discovery nearly a century ago. Despite detailed studies aimed at elucidating the steps of catalysis, experimental evidence for chain growth (Cn à Cn+1 ; n ≥ 2) from the coupling of CO units on metal complexes is, to the best of our knowledge, unprecedented. In this paper, we show that carbon chains can be grown from sequential reactions of CO or CO2 with a transition metal carbonyl complex. By exploiting the cooperative effect of transition and main group metals, we document the first example of chain propagation from sequential coupling of CO units (C1 à C3 à C4), along with the first example of incorporation of CO2 into the growing carbon chain.

The reactions of an aluminium(I) reagent with a series of 1,2-, 1,3-and 1,5-dienes are reported. In the case of 1,3-dienes the reaction occurs by a pericyclic reaction mechanism, specifically a cheletropic cycloaddition, to form aluminocyclopentene containing products. This mechanism has been interrogated by stereochemical experiments and DFT calculations. The stereochemical experiments show that the (4+1) cycloaddition follows a suprafacial topology, while calculations support a concerted albeit asynchronous pathway in which the transition state demonstrates aromatic character. Remarkably, the substrate scope of the (4+1) cycloaddition includes dienes that are either in part, or entirely, contained within aromatic rings. In these cases, reactions occur with dearomatisation of the substrate and can be reversible. In the case of 1,2-or 1,5-dienes complementary reactivity is observed; the orthogonal nature of the C=C p-bonds (1,2-diene) and the homoconjugated system (1,5-diene) both disfavour a (4+1) cycloaddition. Rather, reaction pathways are determined by an initial (2+1) cycloaddition to form an aluminocyclopropane intermediate which can in turn undergo insertion of a further C=C p-bond leading to complex organometallic products that incorporate fused hydrocarbon rings.

A series of linear late transition metal (M=Cu, Ag, Au and Zn) complexes featuring a side‐on [B=C]− containing ligand have been isolated and characterised. The [B=C]− moiety is isoelectronic with the C=C system of an alkene. Comparison across the series shows that in the solid‐state, deviation between the η2 and η1 coordination mode occurs. A related zinc complex containing two [B=C]− ligands was prepared as a further point of comparison for the η1 coordination mode. The bonding in these new complexes has been interrogated by computational techniques (QTAIM, NBO, ETS‐NOCV) and rationalised in terms of the Dewar–Chatt–Duncanson model. The combined structural and computational data provide unique insight into catalytically relevant linear d10 complexes of Cu, Ag and Au. Slippage is proposed to play a key role in catalytic reactions of alkenes through disruption and polarisation of the π‐system. Through the preparation and analysis of a consistent series of group 11 complexes, we show that variation of the metal can impact the coordination mode and hence substrate activation.