Redox-auxiliary catalysis

1. A compound defined by Formula V:

wherein X 1 -X 5 are independently chosen from hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 2 -C 24 alkenyl, C 2 -C 24 alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkoxyl, hydroxy, nitrile, nitro, —C(O)R 1 , —NR 1 R 2 , —C(O)NR 1 R 2 ;

wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently chosen from hydrogen, halogen, C 1 -C 24 alkyl, C 2 -C 24 alkenyl, C 2 -C 24 alkynyl, C 1 -C 24 aryl and C 1 -C 24 heteroaryl, and

wherein Mc is a metallocene.

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is defined by Formula VI:

wherein Ts is a tosyl group, and

wherein Fc is a ferrocene.

3. A method of activating a compound for a chemical reaction, comprising:

a) providing the compound of claim 1 ; and

b) oxidizing the redox auxiliary group that is bonded to the compound, thereby activating the compound of claim 1 ;

wherein the activated compound undergoes a chemical reaction to form a product, and

wherein the oxidation of the redox auxiliary group is reversible.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the redox auxiliary group is oxidized photochemically, electrochemically, or a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the oxidized redox auxiliary group exchanges an electron with a neutral redox auxiliary group to propagate electron transfer chain reaction to effect redox catalysis.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of removing the redox auxiliary group from the product.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the reaction is an isomerization, a rearrangement, an electrocyclic reaction, a photoelectrochemical reaction, a thermal reaction, or a combination thereof.