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The first cobalt-catalysed cycloisomerisation of alkynoic acids is reported, thanks to the design of a well-defined diradical cobalt(iii) catalyst, in the absence of any additives. The high efficiency, regioselectivity and chemoselectivity are comparable to those of noble metal-based systems. The unique reactivity might be attributed to second coordination sphere effects.

The electron-rich pincer ligand 1 has been synthesized and chelated to manganese. The octahedral Mn(iv) bis(diiminosemiquinonate) and Mn(v) (diiminobenzoquinone) (diiminosemiquinonate) radicals were structurally characterized.

The cobalt(II) anilinosalen complex [Co(II)(L)] was prepared and subsequently oxidized by one electron. The resulting cation comprises a square planar low spin Co(II) ion anti-ferromagnetically exchange coupled to an anilinyl radical.

Nickel(II) complexes of (M : L) stoichiometries 1 : 1 (1) and 1 : 2 (2) were prepared from a polydentate ligand involving diiminosemiquinonate radicals. Both were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Vis-NIR and EPR spectroscopy as well as electrochemistry. Ligand-centered oxidation of 1 promotes ligand ejection to give 2.

Silver-catalyzed tandem acetalization and cycloisomerization reactions were found to lead to various furoquinolines, and a nitrogen effect was noticed for AgOTf reactivity, since the cyclization mode switched from 6-endo-dig to 5-exo-dig; from these observations silver imidazolate polymer is proposed as a stable silver catalyst.