carbometalation

When the team first attempted carbometalation with the scandium catalyst and a typical triple-bonded carbon molecule, it achieved only moderate regioselectivity, similar to other transition metal catalysts.

Nano Tech Wire 2010

Because the scandium complex targeted unsaturated carbon bonds during the polymerization process, the researchers realized its enormous potential in other important synthetic reactions, such as carbometalation.

Nano Tech Wire 2010

However, when the researchers tethered a silyl ether-a group containing silicon, oxygen, and hydrocarbon atoms-to the end of the triple-bonded carbon substrate, the carbometalation proceeded with extremely high regioselectivity; over 99% of the final product was isolated as a single chemical isomer.

Nano Tech Wire 2010

Further experiments revealed that the combination of a silyl ether tether group and a scandium-based catalyst enabled controllable carbometalation on numerous unsaturated organic molecules-in many cases, with higher regioselectivity than any other catalyst.

Nano Tech Wire 2010

Because the scandium complex targeted unsaturated carbon bonds during the polymerization process, the researchers realized its enormous potential in other important synthetic reactions, such as carbometalation.

Nano Tech Wire 2010

Researchers can then replace the metal with another molecular group, making carbometalation an effective way to construct carbon-based frameworks containing multiple, branched functional units.

Nano Tech Wire 2010

Further experiments revealed that the combination of a silyl ether tether group and a scandium-based catalyst enabled controllable carbometalation on numerous unsaturated organic molecules-in many cases, with higher regioselectivity than any other catalyst.

Nano Tech Wire 2010

During carbometalation, a metal catalyst helps an organic unit, such as a methyl group, and a metal-commonly aluminum-to add to a carbon-carbon double or triple bond.

Nano Tech Wire 2010

When the team first attempted carbometalation with the scandium catalyst and a typical triple-bonded carbon molecule, it achieved only moderate regioselectivity, similar to other transition metal catalysts.

Nano Tech Wire 2010

Researchers can then replace the metal with another molecular group, making carbometalation an effective way to construct carbon-based frameworks containing multiple, branched functional units.

Nano Tech Wire 2010