Glovebox
Ni-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura on aryl chlorides / sulfamates C(sp2)-C(sp2)
NiCl2(dme), dppf or dtbbpy, K3PO4, dioxane or toluene, 60-100 C
+ Low-valent nickel and ligand performance collapse with trace oxygen.
Glovebox
Cross-electrophile coupling: Csp2-Csp3 C(sp2)-C(sp3)
NiBr2(diglyme), substituted bipyridine, Zn or Mn, DMA or DMF
+ Air oxidizes active nickel and passivates reductant surfaces.
Glovebox
Ni-catalyzed asymmetric reductive cross-coupling enantioselective C(sp2)-C(sp3)
Ni salt, chiral BiOx or PyOx ligand, Mn, DMA, 0 C to room temperature
+ Enantioselectivity depends on clean, oxygen-free chiral nickel speciation.
Glovebox
Stereospecific Ni-catalyzed Kumada coupling of benzylic ethers stereospecific C(sp3)-C(sp3)
NiCl2(glyme), NHC or phosphine ligand, dioxane or toluene
+ Free NHC, Grignard reagent, and nickel turnover all punish wet or aerobic handling.
Glovebox
Buchwald-Hartwig amination of aryl chlorides C(sp2)-N
Pd source, BrettPhos or RockPhos, base, dioxane, toluene, or t-BuOH
+ Electron-rich phosphines oxidize quickly and shorten catalyst lifetime.
Glovebox
Iron-catalyzed cross-coupling C(sp2)-C(sp3) and C(sp3)-C(sp3)
Fe(acac)3, FeCl2, or FeCl3, THF or Et2O, -30 C to room temperature
+ Putative low-valent iron intermediates are highly oxygen-sensitive.
Glovebox
Cobalt MHAT hydration / hydrofunctionalization Markovnikov C-H, C-O, C-N
Co(acac)2, Co(salen), silane, iPrOH or benzene, room temperature to 60 C
+ Modern radical variants require inert gas to avoid chain interruption and silane loss.
Glovebox
Mn(I)-catalyzed C-H activation C(sp2)-C, C-N, C-halide
MnBr(CO)5, base, toluene or DCE, 80-120 C
+ Low-valent manganese carbonyl species are disrupted by oxygen and ligand exchange.
Glovebox
SmI2 ketyl / radical chemistry C-C radical cyclization, pinacol, Reformatsky, Barbier
Commercial SmI2 in THF, HMPA, water, LiBr, or Sm additives, -78 C to room temperature
+ Sm(II) oxidizes rapidly, so titration and transfer quality drive reproducibility.
Glovebox
Low-valent Ti epoxide radical opening C-C and C-H radical cyclization from epoxide
Cp2TiCl2 with Zn or Mn, THF, 0 C to room temperature
+ Ti(III) oxidizes to inactive Ti(IV) and stalls the radical manifold.
Glovebox
NHC-catalyzed homoenolate / cyclopentene annulation C-C annulation
Chiral triazolium salt, DBU or KHMDS, THF or toluene, 0-25 C
+ Free carbene reacts with moisture and oxygen, degrading yield and ee.
Glovebox
Z-selective olefin metathesis with chelated Ru Z-selective C=C formation
Chelated Ru catalyst, rigorously dry solvent, glovebox setup
+ Catalyst lifetime and Z-selectivity are sensitive to air, water, and impurities.
Pressure + Glovebox
Asymmetric hydrogenation of unfunctionalized olefins asymmetric C=C reduction
Ir-PHOX or related Pfaltz catalysts, H2 pressure, inert setup
+ High ee requires clean catalyst handling plus pressure equipment.
Pressure + Glovebox
Frustrated Lewis pair hydrogenation C=N, C=C, C=O reduction
B(C6F5)3 / bulky phosphine pair, H2 pressure, dry solvent
+ Both Lewis acid/base partners and H2 activation demand dry inert operation.
Low Temp + Glovebox
Directed ortho-metalation with t-BuLi / sec-BuLi C(sp2)-E installation
t-BuLi or sec-BuLi, TMEDA, THF or ether, -78 C
+ Pyrophoric reagents, short-lived anions, and thermal control all matter.
Photoredox + Glovebox
Metallaphotoredox decarboxylative arylation C(sp3)-C(sp2)
Ir photocatalyst, Ni catalyst, blue LED, inert atmosphere
+ Nickel and radical chain timing degrade when oxygen enters the system.
Photoredox + Glovebox
Metallaphotoredox C-N coupling C(sp2)-N
Ir photocatalyst, Ni catalyst, base, blue LED
+ Dual catalytic turnover needs controlled light dose and oxygen-free nickel chemistry.
Photoredox + Glovebox
Metallaphotoredox deoxygenative arylation of alcohols C(sp3)-C(sp2) from alcohol
Activated alcohol, Ir photocatalyst, Ni catalyst, blue LED
+ Activation, radical generation, and nickel capture must line up cleanly.
Photoredox
Photoredox decarboxylative Giese reaction C(sp3)-C(sp3)
Photocatalyst, base or acid additive, blue LED
+ Radical concentration and irradiation geometry determine conversion and side products.
Photoredox
Photoredox Minisci alkylation of heteroarenes heteroaryl C(sp2)-C(sp3)
Photocatalyst, acid activation, visible light
+ Regioselectivity, acid strength, and radical flux are tightly coupled.
Photoredox
Decatungstate HAT C(sp3)-H functionalization C(sp3)-H to C-C, C-N, or C-halide
TBADT, near-UV or violet irradiation, controlled residence time
+ Site selectivity depends on light penetration, substrate excess, and oxygen control.
Photoredox + Glovebox
PCET-enabled hydroamination of olefins C(sp3)-N
Ir photocatalyst, phosphate base, blue LED, inert atmosphere
+ Proton-coupled electron transfer is sensitive to water, oxygen, and pH drift.
Photoredox
Energy-transfer [2+2] cycloaddition cyclobutane C-C formation
Thioxanthone or related sensitizer, 405 nm light
+ Competing E/Z isomerization and dimerization require tight light control.
Photoredox
Energy-transfer dearomative cycloaddition 3D scaffold formation from flat arenes
Triplet sensitizer, defined wavelength, temperature control
+ Small setup changes can redirect excitation, quenching, and product distribution.
Photoredox
Energy-transfer olefin E to Z isomerization stereoselective C=C inversion
Photosensitizer, visible light, oxygen-managed irradiation
+ Photostationary state and catalyst choice control useful Z enrichment.
Photoredox
Photoredox trifluoromethylation of arenes / heteroarenes C(sp2)-CF3
Ru or Ir photocatalyst, Togni or Umemoto reagent, visible light
+ Regioselectivity and overfunctionalization need careful condition control.
Photoredox + Glovebox
ConPET reduction of unactivated aryl halides C(sp2)-H or C(sp2)-C from ArCl
PDI or related catalyst, two-photon excitation, inert atmosphere
+ Very reducing excited states are easily quenched by oxygen and impurities.
Photoredox
Acridinium-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov hydrofunctionalization anti-Markovnikov C-O, C-N, C-C
Acridinium photocatalyst, H-atom donor, visible light
+ Product profiles depend on matched oxidation potential, nucleophile, and HAT donor.
Photoredox
EDA complex photochemistry radical C-C, C-N, C-halide
No photocatalyst, defined light source, concentration control
+ Complex formation, color, and irradiation path length drive the reaction.
Photoredox + Glovebox
Ni/photoredox direct C(sp3)-H arylation via Cl radical HAT C(sp3)-H to C(sp3)-C(sp2)
Ni catalyst, photocatalyst, chloride source, blue LED, inert atmosphere
+ HAT selectivity and nickel capture must be balanced while excluding oxygen.
Pressure + Glovebox
Asymmetric H2 hydrogenation of N-heteroaromatics C=N / C=C reduction
Chiral Ru, Ir, or related catalyst, H2 pressure, inert setup
+ Dearomatization, catalyst poisoning, and pressure operation need specialized control.
Pressure + Glovebox
Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation C=C to aldehyde
Rh catalyst, chiral ligand, CO/H2 pressure
+ Branched/linear selectivity depends on gas ratio, ligand, and clean Rh handling.
Pressure
Pd-catalyzed aminocarbonylation aryl amide formation
Pd catalyst, Xantphos or related ligand, CO pressure
+ Pressure-rated CO handling and ligand/catalyst balance are the bottlenecks.
Pressure
Pd-catalyzed alkoxy/hydroxycarbonylation aryl ester or acid formation
Pd catalyst, ligand, base, CO pressure
+ Carbonylation selectivity and CO safety require the right reactor workflow.
Pressure + Glovebox
Buchwald-Hartwig aryl amination with ammonia Ar-NH2
Pd catalyst, t-BuBrettPhos-type ligand, sealed pressure
+ Ammonia pressure and air-sensitive catalyst handling make it hard to run casually.
Pressure
Ethenolysis and cross-metathesis with ethylene C=C cleavage or cross-metathesis
Ru metathesis catalyst, ethylene pressure
+ Gas-liquid mass transfer and metathesis catalyst health control productivity.
Pressure + Glovebox
Pd/Ni-catalyzed CO2 carboxylation of aryl halides C(sp2)-CO2H
Pd or Ni catalyst, reductant, CO2 atmosphere
+ Low-valent catalyst, reductant, and gas delivery all need controlled setup.
Pressure
Pd-catalyzed reductive carbonylation to aldehydes Ar-X to ArCHO
Pd catalyst, ligand, CO/H2 pressure or transfer reductant
+ Over-reduction and carbonylation failure are common without optimized gas handling.
Low Temp + Glovebox
Halogen-metal exchange / electrophile trap at low temperature C-E installation
n-BuLi, t-BuLi, or i-PrMgCl.LiCl, -78 C to -40 C
+ Short-lived organometallics require dry, cold, oxygen-free additions.
Low Temp + Glovebox
Hoppe asymmetric alpha-lithiation of carbamates C-C or C-E with alpha stereocenter
sec-BuLi, sparteine-type ligand, ether, -78 C
+ Configurational stability is temperature- and aggregation-sensitive.
Low Temp
Asymmetric iminium / enamine catalysis at low temperature C-C, C-N, C-O, or C-halide
Chiral organocatalyst, matched additive, low-temperature control
+ Stereocontrol depends on temperature, water activity, and catalyst loading.
Low Temp + Glovebox
Evans oxazolidinone enolate alkylation / aldol C-C with alpha stereocenter
Bu2BOTf, base, -78 C, dry solvent
+ Enolate geometry and water sensitivity control diastereoselectivity.
Low Temp + Glovebox
Mukaiyama / Carreira asymmetric aldol asymmetric beta-hydroxy carbonyl formation
Chiral Lewis acid, dry solvent, -78 C to -40 C
+ Lewis acids and silyl enol ethers are moisture-sensitive and thermally delicate.
Photoredox + Low Temp
Asymmetric photocatalysis at low temperature enantioselective C-C or C-N
Photocatalyst, chiral catalyst, controlled LED irradiation below room temperature
+ Light flux, oxygen exclusion, and thermal control all affect ee and conversion.