Divergent Reactivity of Metal Carbenoids with Aromatic Compounds

Abstract

A metal carbenoid is a highly active carbon species that exhibits divergent reactivity. The control of the reactivity still remains a challenging task in carbenoid chemistry. Recently, several groups have succeeded in controlling the chemoselectivity of these reactions. This mini-review highlights substrate-controlled chemoselective arene cyclopropanation over C-H insertion reaction, and catalyst-controlled C-H functionalization of electron-rich aromatic compounds.