Improving the Kumada Catalyst Transfer Polymerization with Water-Scavenging Grignard Reagents.

Conjugated polymers have received widespread interest as optoelectronic materials. Recently, these macromolecules have been adopted for biologically relevant applications, such as sensors, imaging agents, and drug delivery vectors. A major limitation of the chemistry used to prepare these classes of compounds is that the resultant polymers themselves are not tolerant to water or are not inherently water-soluble.

Acyl metalloids: conformity and deviation from carbonyl reactivity.

Once considered as mere curiosities, acyl metalloids are now recognized for their utility in enabling chemical synthesis. This perspective considers the reactivity displayed by acylboron, -silicon, -germanium, and tellurium species. By highlighting the role of these species in various transformations, we demonstrate how differences between the comprising elements result in varied reaction outcomes.