Formation of ethane from mono-methyl palladium(II) complexes.

This article describes the high-yielding and selective oxidatively induced formation of ethane from mono-methyl palladium complexes. Mechanistic details of this reaction have been explored via both experiment and computation. On the basis of these studies, a mechanism involving methyl group transmetalation between Pd(II) and Pd(IV) interediates is proposed.

Concise total synthesis of (+/-)-lycopladine A.

A concise total synthesis of the Lycopodium alkaloid lycopladine A (1) is described that features sequential conjugate addition and enolate arylation reactions to construct the tricyclic core in two steps.