In contrast to the extraordinary achievements of cation complexation in host-guest chemistry, only recently has anion complexation by compounds containing electrondeficient atoms such as boron, mercury, tin and silicon received attention. We here present a new class of carborane-supported macrocyclic multidentate Lewis acid hosts which bind nucleophilic species to form isolable host-guest compl...

We report a Lewis acid catalyzed reaction sequence involving a 1,2-shift and subsequent C-H insertion that gives monocyclic and fused bicyclic cyclopentenone products. This reaction sequence, which is initiated by treating β-hydroxy-α-diazo ketones with a Lewis acid, proceeds through vinyl cation intermediates that insert at non-activated gamma C-H bonds. This reaction represents an alternative...

Ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, and rhenium hydride complexes are highly useful redox Lewis acid and base catalysts. Various substrates bearing hetero atoms are activated by these catalysts and undergo reactions with either nucleophiles or electrophiles under neutral conditions. These types of catalytic reactions are described together with their application to the preparation of various biologica...