Moreover, we found a dramatic electronic turnover of the α-diazo group, which converts from a weak electrophile to a strong nucleophile under the DBU·[DBU-H]+-DMF-H2O and DBU·[DBU-H]+-DMF-catalyzed conditions via a through-space charge migration. Additionally, water molecules can ...
However, even when smaller substituents are present, they must be pulled away to make room for the approaching nucleophile, which induces a certain amount of deformation energy into the Lewis acid molecule. This quantity has been shown to be as large as 20 kcal/mol and can be even larger [...