Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
[formula: see text] Catalytic acylation using complex transition metal salts MCo(CO)4 is demonstrated. Surprisingly, a solvent-dependent mechanistic "switch" results in a Lewis acid-based acylation mechanism in nonpolar media and a nucleophilic mechanism in polar organic media. These observations lead to the first example of a catalyzed Staudinger reaction to form beta-lactams.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Wack et al. (1999) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: