One-electron oxidation of metal enolates and metal phenolates

The structure and reactivity of a large number of metal enolates/metal phenolates and their radical cations is analyzed from both a preparative and mechanistic point of view. Special attention is given to the MO bond cleavage and the C–C coupling on the stage of the radical cations. The insight obtained allowed to devise a novel selective oxidative coupling of enolates and phenolates through an intramolecular variant.