On Transition Metal-Catalyzed Reactions of Norbornadiene and the Concept of π Complex Multicenter Processes

TLDR: In this paper, the authors focus on bicyclo[22l]heptadiene-2,5 (norbornadiene), a new versatile substrate for catalytic studies.

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on bicyclo[22l]heptadiene-2,5 (norbornadiene), a new versatile substrate for catalytic studies The chapter describes its transition metal-catalyzed reactions and discusses the mechanism of these reactions and the function of transition metals in catalytic processes of this kind The chemistry of norbornadiene is characterized by strain and homoconjugation Hence, the olefin undergoes a series of addition reactions that are frequently accompanied by the formation of the nortricyclene system—the direction of electrophilic attack being usually exo Transition metal complexes, such as nickel carbonyl or bisacrylonitrile nickel have been found to greatly promote the reaction of acrylonitrile with norbornadiene Norbornadiene may be carbonylated essentially under the conditions of Reppe's acrylic ester synthesis