Catalytic cyclometalation reaction of unsaturated compounds in synthesis of magnesa- and aluminacarbocycles

The investigation results on design and application of the new catalytic cyclometalation reaction of olefins, dienes, acetylenes and allenes with Al, Mg and halogen alkyls mediated by Ti or Zr based metallocene catalysts to produce novel classes of cyclic organometallics namely aluminacyclopropanes, aluminacyclopropenes, aluminacyclopentanes, aluminacyclopentenes, aluminacyclopenta-2,4-dienes, magnesacyclopentanes, magnesacyclopentenes, magnesacyclopenta-2,4-dienes as well as metallamacrocycles are summarized and systematized. Selected literature data on thermal synthesis of cyclic organoaluminum and organomagnesium compounds for comparison the efficiencies of catalytic and classic synthetic methods are given. Mechanistic aspects of catalytic cyclometalation of unsaturated compounds and chemical transformations of Al and Mg metallacycles are discussed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.