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ABSTRACT The recognition of structural elements (that is, retrons) that signal the application of specific chemical transformations is a key cognitive event in the design of synthetic routes
to complex molecules. Reactions that produce compounds without an easily identifiable retron, by way of either substantial structural rearrangement or loss of the atoms required for the
reaction to proceed, are significantly more difficult to apply during retrosynthetic planning, yet allow for non-traditional pathways that may facilitate efficient acquisition of the target
molecule. We have developed a triflimide (Tf2NH)-catalysed rearrangement of _N_-allylhydrazones that allows for the generation of a sigma bond between two unfunctionalized _sp_3 carbons in
such a way that no clear retron for the reaction remains. This new ‘traceless’ bond construction displays a broad substrate profile and should open avenues for synthesizing complex molecules
using non-traditional disconnections. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through
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Read our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS INTERCEPTING AN AVOIDED Α-IMINOL REARRANGEMENT WITH A PETASIS REACTION FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF 2,3-DIARYL
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Article CAS Google Scholar Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (CHE0845063), the donors of the American Chemical Society
Petroleum Research Fund (grant no. 46778-G) and Northwestern University. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, 60208,
Illinois, USA Devon A. Mundal, Christopher T. Avetta Jr & Regan J. Thomson Authors * Devon A. Mundal View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
* Christopher T. Avetta Jr View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Regan J. Thomson View author publications You can also search for this
author inPubMed Google Scholar CONTRIBUTIONS R.J.T. conceived the idea and wrote the manuscript. D.A.M. and C.T.A. performed the experiments. All the authors analysed the data, contributed
to discussions and edited the manuscript. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Regan J. Thomson. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare no competing financial
interests. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary information (PDF 15988 kb) RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE
Mundal, D., Avetta, C. & Thomson, R. Triflimide-catalysed sigmatropic rearrangement of _N_-allylhydrazones as an example of a traceless bond construction. _Nature Chem_ 2, 294–297
(2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.576 Download citation * Received: 17 September 2009 * Accepted: 19 January 2010 * Published: 28 February 2010 * Issue Date: April 2010 * DOI:
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