title: Allenes in catalytic asymmetric synthesis and natural product syntheses.
abstract: Allenes are the simplest class of cumulenes, with two contiguous C=C bonds, and show unique physical and chemical properties. These features make allenes particularly attractive in modern organic chemistry. In this Review, attention is paid to the advances made in catalytic asymmetric synthesis and natural product syntheses based on well-established reactions of allenes, such as propargylation, addition, cycloaddition, cycloisomerization, cyclization, etc., with or without catalysts. Their versatile reactivity, substituent-loading ability, axial to center chirality transfer, and controllable selectivity allow access to target molecules by unique and efficient approaches. The main topics in this Review are presented with selected examples from 2003 to 2011.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, 345 Fengling Lu, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Shichao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shengming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D060326:Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic / Q000379:methods*; D011090:Polyenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D011090:Polyenes