Chemistry Organometallic chemistry

Researchers at Kanazawa University describe in Chemical Society Reviews how large cyclic molecules can be used for the synthesis of big metallic complexes with two or more metal atoms.

The generation of alkyl radicals was achieved by direct visible-light excitation of the organoborate complex, which was designed and synthesized from “boracene,” which has a boron atom in the tetracene-like skeleton. The alkyl radicals thus obtained could be used as a carbon source for chemical reactions, enabling the synthesis of complicated/bulky organic compounds. The present study offers a new protocol for organic synthesis, which is expected to accelerate e.g. drug discovery.