Herein, we report the synthesis of highly reduced bipyridyl magnesium complexes and the first example of a stable organic magnesium electride supported by quantum mechanical computations and X-ray diffraction. These complexes serve as unconventional homogeneous reductants due to their high solubility, modular redox potentials, and formation of insoluble, non-coordinating byproducts. The applicability of these reductants is showcased by accessing low-valent (bipy)₂Ni(0) species that are challenging to access otherwise.

A doubly-interlocked [2]catenane – or Solomon link – undergoes a complex conformational change upon addition of sulfate in methanol.

The boracarboxylation reaction has potential for the production of natural products and drug candidates, but the development of an asymmetric version of this transformation is challenging. We report an enantioselective boracarboxylation of styrenes, enabled by a copper catalyst containing chiral phosphines. Our experimental conditions provide yields between 31–76% and enantiomeric ratios from 80:20 up to 98:2 for electron‐rich styrenes. Oxidation of a boracarboxylation product gives (S)‐tropic acid, an intermediate towards several tropane alkaloids. A computational analysis of the mechanistic details shows a complex pattern of competing reaction pathways, highlighting challenges encountered when developing asymmetric reactions using CO₂.

Titanium-mediated 1,2-activation of Grignard reagents enables α and β insertion of carbon dioxide and arylaldehyde to prepare cis-3,4 butyrolactones.