CHRENKO, D., POSPÍŠIL, Jiří. Latest Developments of the Julia-Kocienski Olefination Reaction: Mechanistic Considerations. Molecules. 2024, 29(12), 2719. ISSN 1420-3049. E-ISSN 1420-3049

Since its discovery, the Julia-Kocienski olefination reaction has over past 30 years become one of the key C-C connective methods that is used in late-stage natural product synthesis. The reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions, with a wide substrate scope and functional group tolerance range and with high (E) selectivity. In this focused review, we discuss the reaction from a mechanistic point of view and disclose key features that play an important role in reaction selectivity. Finally, the mechanistic aspects of the newly developed modification of the Julia-Kocienski reaction, which allows the formation of both (E) and (Z) olefins from the same reaction partners, are discussed.