Professor Dave Explains
Carbenes Part 2: Cyclopropanation, C-H Insertion, and the Bamford-Stevens Reaction
In the previous tutorial we learned about carbenes. So now that we understand their properties, we are ready to learn about what we can do with them. Three major uses of carbenes involve cyclopropanation, C-H insertion, and the...
Professor Dave Explains
Diazomethane Synthesis and Applications (Arndt-Eistert Homologation)
In learning about carbenes, we discovered the importance of diazomethane. So it will be a good idea to learn how to make this molecule, as well as some other things we can do with it, including something called the Arndt-Eistert...
Professor Dave Explains
Passerini Reaction
What are isonitriles good for? The Passerini reaction! This is a very neat multi-component reaction that is good for generating chemical libraries. When was it invented? What's the mechanism? What are we doing with it today? Let's find out!
Professor Dave Explains
Carbenes Part 1: Properties and Formation
We've learned about a variety of different unstable carbon species, like carbocations, carbanions, and carbon radicals. But there is one more to know, carbenes. These are carbon atoms with two bonds and two nonbonding electrons. They...