Kumada-Corriu Coupling

In 1972, Professor Kumada's group in Japan and Professor Corriu's group in France independently reported a C-C cross coupling reaction between an alkyl or aryl Grignard reagent with an aryl or vinyl halocarbon catalysed by nickel complex. The french group published first and the publication was referenced in Kumada's JACS paper. This reaction has witnessed quite an interesting development and has been gradually accepted by main stream organic chemistry community as a useful tool in organic synthesis, together with later developed Negishi coupling (1977), Sonogashira coupling (1975), Suzuki (1979), Stille (1978), etc. these novel C-C bond formations have greatly enriched the tool box of modern synthetic organic chemistry.

Major references:
R. J. P. Corriu; J.P. Masse, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun. 1972, 144
Kohei Tamao, Koji Sumitani, Makoto Kumada . J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 1972, 94, 4374–4376.

Silyboration using Si-B Compounds

Owing to its rarity and its potential of installing silyl and boryl onto an unsaturated substrate in one step, we were interested in Silicon-Boron bond compound and did some early work many years ago (Organometallics, 1995, 14, 3112). Recently, after hearing an interesting talk on chemistry of Si-Sn compounds given by Professor Jim Moken from Boston College, US, I did a quick search to see how much is there for Si-B chemistry, wow! I am so impressed with the amazing development in the chemistry of Si-B after 15 years, especially by a young professor SUGINOME's group at Kyoto University, Japan. Anyone who is interested in Si-B chemistry, should refer to his recent review: Silylboranes as New Tools in Organic Synthesis, Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan, 2009, 82, 29-49. (I copied a picture from Professor Michinori Suginome's website to give you a snapshot). I guess 15-year is a long time! Bravo! Professor Suginome! Key words: silicon-boron bond; silylborane; silyboration; catalytic silyboration.