Due to the difficulty of C-C activation, a driving force is required to facilitate the reaction. One common strategy is to form stable metal complexes. One example is reported by Milstein and coworkers, in which the C(sp)–C(sp) bond of bisphosphine ligands was selectively cleaved by a number of metals to afford stable pincer complexes under mild conditions.
Aromatization is another driving force that is utilized for C–C bond activation. For example, Chaudret group reported that the C–C bond of steroid compounds can be cleaved through the Ru-promoted aromatization of the B ring. At the same time, a methane molecule is released, which is possibly another driving force for this reaction.
In addition, the metalloradical has also been proven to have the ability to cleave the C–C single bond. Chan group reported the C–C bond scission of cyclooctane via 1,2-addition with Rh(III) porphyrin hydride, which involved [Rh(ttp)]· radical as the key intermediate.