Arene activation via π-bond localization: concepts and opportunities

• Paul Meiners,
• Julian J. Melder and
• Tobias Morack

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2026, 22, 257–273, doi:10.3762/bjoc.22.19

• highlighted. Collectively, these concepts create a roadmap for the development of new strategies that harness π-bond localization to expand the synthetic utility of aromatic compounds. Keywords: arene activation; arene functionalization; dearomatization; metal–arene π-complexes; strained molecules

• following sections therefore focus on the selective disruption of aromaticity through the formation of transition metal–arene π-complexes. Transient and reversible coordination of transition metals to aromatic π-systems is a key feature of many catalytic transformations, with the oxidative addition of