Outstanding Features of Lead Compounds

Another advantage of lead compounds is their ability to tolerate a variety of functional groups. This is noticeable from their usefulness in modern syntheses of complex natural products, one of the main subjects of this chapter. In early studies, for example, Pb(OAc)4 found particular application in alkaloid synthesis [28]. Donnelly and Finet have focused on the compact array of aromatic rings found in several members of the flavonoid family [29] by use of organolead species. A review of this new approach to arylation reactions with aryllead compounds can also be found in the total synthesis of natural products [30]. 

C-C Bond Formation (Alkylation, Arylation, Vinylation, Acetylenation, C-C Coupling, etc.) 

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