Transition-Metal-Mediated Cleavage of C-C Bonds in Aromatic Rings

Abstract

Metal-mediated cleavage of aromatic C-C bonds has a range of potential synthetic applications: from direct coal liquefaction to synthesis of natural products. However, in contrast to the activation of aromatic C-H bonds, which has already been widely studied and exploited in diverse set of functionalization reactions, cleavage of aromatic C-C bonds remains Terra incognita. This Minireview summarizes the recent progress in this field and outlines key challenges to be overcome to develop synthetic methods based on this fundamental organometallic transformation.

Keywords: C−C activation; arene ligands; arenes; cleavage reactions; cyclopentadienyl ligands; transition metals.