Five-membered metallacycles are typically reluctant to undergo endocyclic β-hydrogen elimination. The rhodium-catalyzed isomerization of 4-pentenals into 3-pentenals occurs through this elementary step and cleavage of two CH bonds, as supported by deuterium-labeling studies. The reaction proceeds without decarbonylation, leads to trans olefins exclusively, and tolerates other olefins normally prone to isomerization. Endocyclic β-hydrogen elimination can also be controlled in an enantiodivergent reaction on a racemic mixture.

Five-membered metallacycles are typically reluctant to undergo endocyclic β-hydrogen elimination. The rhodium-catalyzed isomerization of 4-pentenals into 3-pentenals occurs through this elementary step and cleavage of two CH bonds, as supported by deuterium-labeling studies. The reaction proceeds without decarbonylation, leads to trans olefins exclusively, and tolerates other olefins normally prone to isomerization. Endocyclic β-hydrogen elimination can also be controlled in an enantiodivergent reaction on a racemic mixture.

The use of α,ω-dienes as functionalization reagents for olefinic carbon–hydrogen bonds has been rarely studied. Reported herein is the rhodium(I)-catalyzed rearrangement of prochiral 1,6-heptadienes into [2,2,1]-cycloheptane derivatives with concomitant creation of at least three stereogenic centers and complete diastereocontrol. Deuterium-labeling studies and the isolation of a key intermediate are consistent with a group-directed CH bond activation, followed by two consecutive migratory insertions, with only the latter step being diastereoselective.

The use of α,ω-dienes as functionalization reagents for olefinic carbon–hydrogen bonds has been rarely studied. Reported herein is the rhodium(I)-catalyzed rearrangement of prochiral 1,6-heptadienes into [2,2,1]-cycloheptane derivatives with concomitant creation of at least three stereogenic centers and complete diastereocontrol. Deuterium-labeling studies and the isolation of a key intermediate are consistent with a group-directed CH bond activation, followed by two consecutive migratory insertions, with only the latter step being diastereoselective.

The Julia–Kocienski reaction has become indispensable in the synthetic organic chemist's olefination toolbox. Although the stereochemical outcome of the transformation is sometimes difficult to predict, some trends can be explained by an array of mechanistic hypotheses which have been put forward since the initial disclosure of the reaction. Moreover, several important developments have been recently reported and are summarised in this microreview. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)