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Homogeneous catalysis

Eight irons hit the right spin

Nature Chemistry volume 8, pages 904–905 (2016)Cite this article

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After remaining elusive for 40 years, 'Kochi's complex', a key intermediate in iron-catalysed cross-coupling, has finally been pinned down, and its structure comes as something of a surprise.

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Figure 1: The mechanism of iron-mediated C–C bond formation has now been shown to proceed via [Fe8Me12]−, Kochi's previously unknown intermediate.

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  1. Robin Bedford is in the School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK,

    Robin B. Bedford

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  1. Robin B. Bedford
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Correspondence to Robin B. Bedford.

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Bedford, R. Eight irons hit the right spin. Nature Chem 8, 904–905 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.2621

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