Gigging Benzene.

Go Aggies! Go Chemikers! The word "gig" applies to a multipronged metal tool for hunting frogs and fish. It constitutes part of a rallying cry, "gig 'em" that inspires Texas A&M Aggies to victory in athletic and academic competitions. This Highlight examines recent victories in the C....._ C cleavage of benzene made possible by a four-pronged iridium gig that yields a "spring-loaded" norbornadiene-like structure with significant ring strain.