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Synthesis of substituted alkanes

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Kolbe Electrolysis


Wurtz Reaction


Recent Literature


A Pd-NHC catalytic system has been developed, that is capable of cross-coupling various unactivated, primary bromides and alkyl organozinc reagents in high yield at room temperature.
N. Hadei, E. A. B. Kantchev, C. J. O'Brien, M. G. Organ, Org. Lett., 2005, 7, 3805-3807.


The use of 2% Pd2(dba)3/8% PCyp3/NMI in THF/NMP at 80°C achieves the cross-coupling of a range of β-hydrogen-containing primary alkyl iodides, bromides, chlorides, and tosylates with an array of alkyl-, alkenyl-, and arylzinc halides. This method tolerates various functional groups.
J. Zhou, G. C. Fu, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2003, 125, 12527-12530.


Screening of a 15-member library of phosphaadamantane ligands has allowed for the rapid determination of the most suitable ligand, for facilitating Suzuki-type couplings of alkyl halides or tosylates containing β-hydrogens with either boronic acids or alkylboranes.
T. Brenstrum, D. A. Gerristma, G. M. Adjabeng, C. S. Frampton, J. Britten, A. J. Robertson, J. McNulty, A. Capretta, J. Org. Chem., 2004, 69, 7635-7639.


A rhodium-catalyzed methylenation-hydrogenation cascade process allows the homologation of carbonyl compounds to alkanes in high yields.
H. Lebel, C. Ladjel, J. Org. Chem., 2005, 70, 10159-10161.