Distinctive Mechanistic Scenarios and Substituent Effects of Gold(I) versus Copper(I) Catalysis for Hydroacylation of Terminal Alkynes with Glyoxal Derivatives

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been conducted to study the mechanisms, substituent effects, and the role of bases in Au- and Cu-catalyzed hydroacylation of terminal alkyne with glyoxal derivatives. The two reactions, despite being catalyzed by the same group of transition metals, follow distinctive reaction mechanisms. Through the detailed DFT calculations, insights into the mechanisms are obtained, and the substituent effects and the role of the bases are understood.

Accessible triplet excited states in the photoisomerization of allenes with extended conjugation

A series of bidentate allene- and enyne-containing ligands have been synthesized and the photochemical properties of their rhenium(I) complexes have been studied. These complexes exhibit facile isomerization of the conjugated double bonds upon ambient light exposure. Simulations unveiled a very efficient intersystem crossing and the consequent key role of the triplet states in the observed photochemistry of these substrates upon rhenium(I) complexation.