Cobalt and Iron Stabilized Ketyl, Ketiminyl and Aldiminyl Radical Anions

Carbonyl and iminyl based radical anions are reactive intermediates in a variety of transformations in organic synthesis. Herein, the isolation of ketyl, and more importantly unprecedented ketiminyl and aldiminyl radical anions coordinated to cobalt and iron complexes is presented. Insights into the electronic structure of these unusual metal bound radical anions is provided by X‐Ray diffraction analysis, NMR, IR, UV/Vis and Mössbauer spectroscopy, solid and solution state magnetometry, as well as a by a detailed computational analysis. The metal bound radical anions are very reactive and facilitate the activation of intra‐ and intermolecular C−H bonds.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Isoschizandrin Utilizing a Samarium(II) Iodide-Promoted 8-Endo Ketyl−Olefin Cyclization

The 13-step synthesis of (+)-isoschizandrin reported herein features a samarium(II) iodide-promoted 8-endo ketyl-olefin coupling to assemble the eight-membered ring present in the target concomitantly with the required functionality and stereochemistry. In constructing (+)-isoschizandrin as a single atropisomer, the synthesis utilizes a kinetic resolution of a seven-membered lactone using a CBS-oxazaborolidine.