Copper and palladium bimetallic sub-nanoparticles were stabilized on modified polyaniline materials as an efficient catalyst to promote C-C coupling reactions in aqueous solution

Modified polyaniline self-stabilizing Cu/Pd bimetallic sub-nanocluster composite materials (Cu/Pd@Mod-PANI-3OH) are obtained through the three steps of oxidative polymerization, structural modification, and metal self-trapping. Palladium and copper are confined and coordinated in the composite material by participating in the reaction and are highly uniformly dispersed in the carrier in the form of sub-nano clusters. The Cu/Pd@Mod-PANI-3OH micro-nano reactor catalyst formed by the self-assembly of copper, palladium and polyaniline has excellent electronic effects, including a tunable microenvironment, metal-carrier and metal-metal synergy, and the stabilizing effect of metal by polyaniline materials. It can efficiently catalyse C-C coupling (Sonogashira and Suzuki) reactions in aqueous solution with high catalytic activity and a wide range of applications (40 substrates). The characterization test results show that the Cu/Pd@Mod-PANI-3OH composite material obtained by self-trapping metal is a kind of prefabricated catalyst. During the reaction process, the high-valent metals in the pre-catalyst are in situ converted into active zero-valent metals. The catalyst's pre-fabrication strategy well protects the catalytic active centre, largely prevents agglomeration of the metal particles (can be recycled 8 times) and exhibits excellent interfacial domain-limited catalysis. The research strategy of modulation of catalytic active sites to improve the properties of materials at the molecular and atomic level reported in this article will open a new door in the research of polyaniline materials.

Copper supported silica-based nanocatalysts for CuAAC and cross-coupling reactions

Recent advances in Cu/SiO2-based heterogeneous catalysts for click reaction, C–N, C–S, and C–O coupling reactions are reviewed and summarized.

Copper nanocatalysts applied in coupling reactions: a mechanistic insight

Copper-based nanocatalysts have seen great interest for use in synthetic applications since the early 20th century, as evidenced by the exponential number of contributions reported (since 2000, more than 48 000 works published out of about 81 300 since 1900; results from SciFinder using "copper nanocatalysts in organic synthesis" as keywords). These huge efforts are mainly based on two key aspects: (i) copper is an Earth-abundant metal with low toxicity, leading to inexpensive and eco-friendly catalytic materials; and (ii) copper can stabilize different oxidation states (0 to +3) for molecular and nanoparticle-based systems, which promotes different types of metal-reagent interactions. This chemical versatility allows different pathways, involving radical or ionic copper-based intermediates. Thus, copper-based nanoparticles have become convenient catalysts, in particular for couplings (both homo- and hetero-couplings), transformations that are involved in a remarkable number of processes affording organic compounds, which find interest in different fields (medicinal chemistry, natural products, drugs, materials, etc.). Clearly, this richness in reactivity makes understanding the mechanisms more complex. The present review focuses on the analysis of reported contributions using monometallic copper-based nanoparticles as catalytic precursors applied in coupling reactions, paying attention to those shedding light on the reaction mechanism.

A competent green methodology for the synthesis of aryl thioethers and 1H-tetrazole over magnetically retrievable novel CoFe2O4@l-asparagine anchored Cu, Ni nanocatalyst

The current work describes the successful synthesis of a magnetic CoFe₂O₄ centered asparagine functionalized noble metal (M = Cu, Ni) anchored nanocomposite. The novel materials, synthesized by post-functionalization approach, have been characterized by XRD, SEM, EDX, X-ray elemental mapping, FT-IR and VSM studies. The materials are proved to be efficient heterogeneous catalyst in the synthesis of diarylthioethers by C-S cross coupling reaction and 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles by azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction under green conditions. The current methodology is advantageous in terms of simplicity of procedure, facile synthesis, high yield in short reaction time, easy magnetic isolation and reusability of catalysts in consecutive runs with insignificant change in catalytic activity.

Synthesis and nano-Pd catalyzed chemoselective oxidation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical sulfides

A highly chemoselective, efficient and nano-Pd catalyzed protocol for the rapid construction of sulfoxides and sulfones via the oxidation of symmetrical and unsymmetrical sulfides using H2O2 as an oxidant has been developed, respectively. The ready availability of starting materials, easy recovery and reutilization of the catalyst, wide substrate scope, and high yields make this protocol an attractive alternative. The process also involves the metal-free and microwave-promoted synthesis of symmetrical diarylsulfides, and FeCl3-mediated preparation of symmetrical diaryldisulfides through the reaction of arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates with Na2S·9H2O as a sulfur source. In addition, unsymmetrical sulfides were generated via the K2CO3-mediated reaction of arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates with symmetrical disulfides.

An efficient clean methodology for the C–S coupling to aryl thioethers and S–S homocoupling to aromatic disulfides catalyzed over a Ce(iv)-leucine complex immobilized on mesoporous MCM-41

Anchored Ce(iv) on the surface of MCM-41 mesoporous silica was used for the synthesis of aryl thioethers and aromatic disulfides.

New bio-nanocomposites based on iron oxides and polysaccharides applied to oxidation and alkylation reactions

Polysaccharides from natural sources and iron precursors were applied to develop new bio-nanocomposites by mechanochemical milling processes. The proposed methodology was demonstrated to be advantageous in comparison with other protocols for the synthesis of iron oxide based nanostructures. Additionally, mechanochemistry has enormous potential from an environmental point-of-view since it is able to reduce solvent issues in chemical syntheses. The catalytic activity of the obtained nanocatalysts was investigated in both the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde and in the alkylation of toluene with benzyl chloride. The microwave-assisted oxidation of benzyl alcohol reached 45% conversion after 10 min. The conversion of the alkylation of toluene in both microwave-assisted and conventional heating methods was higher than 99% after 3 min and 30 min, respectively. The transformation of benzyl alcohol and toluene into valuable product in both the oxidation and alkylation reaction reveals a potential method for the valorization of lignocellulosic biomass.

Reversible Redox Cycling of Well-Defined, Ultrasmall Cu/Cu2O Nanoparticles

Exceptionally small and well-defined copper (Cu) and cuprite (Cu₂O) nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized by the reaction of mesitylcopper(I) with either H₂ or air, respectively. In the presence of substoichiometric quantities of ligands, namely, stearic or di(octyl)phosphinic acid (0.1-0.2 equiv vs Cu), ultrasmall nanoparticles are prepared with diameters as low as ∼2 nm, soluble in a range of solvents. The solutions of Cu NPs undergo quantitative oxidation, on exposure to air, to form Cu₂O NPs. The Cu₂O NPs can be reduced back to Cu(0) NPs using accessible temperatures and low pressures of hydrogen (135 °C, 3 bar H₂). This striking reversible redox cycling of the discrete, solubilized Cu/Cu(I) colloids was successfully repeated over 10 cycles, representing 19 separate reactions. The ligands influence the evolution of both composition and size of the nanoparticles, during synthesis and redox cycling, as explored in detail using vacuum-transfer aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and visible spectroscopy.

Formation of C–C, C–S and C–N bonds catalysed by supported copper nanoparticles

Copper nanoparticles on different supports are effective reusable catalysts for the palladium- and ligand-free coupling of aryl halides with alkynes, thiols and azoles.

Metal-free catalytic synthesis of diaryl thioethers under mild conditions

A green method for preparing diaryl thioethers in which [DBUH][OAc] plays the catalyst and solvent roles simultaneously.

Efficient tandem aqueous room temperature oxidative amidations catalysed by supported Pd nanoparticles on graphene oxide

Pd nanoparticles deposited onto graphene oxide nanosheets (SE-GO/Pd_NPs) were found to successfully promote two oxidative processes for the synthesis of amides, providing alternative possibilities to these important compounds.

Sulfides Synthesis: Nanocatalysts in C–S Cross-Coupling Reactions

The C–S cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides with thiols or sulfur sources is a key and valuable synthetic transformation in chemistry and medicine as well as in biology, and the development of novel efficient synthetic protocols for the synthesis of the corresponding products (sulfides) is highly desired. Among a wide range of catalysts used in C–S coupling reactions, metallic nanocatalysts have attracted notable interest. Herein, we summarize recent breakthroughs in the arena of metal nanocatalysts employed in C–S cross-coupling reactions with the goal of stimulating further progress in this field. This review is divided into three main sections according to the nature of the metal nanocatalysts discussed. The first section focuses on naked or purely metallic catalysts in nano-size, such as Cu, Pd, Ni, and In. The second section focuses on the role of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles and mesoporous silica nanomaterials, such as MCM-41 and SBA-15, as catalyst supports. Finally, the third section focuses on the catalytic activities of copper ferrite nanoparticles in C–S cross-coupling reactions. Additionally, the recovery and reusability of the nanocatalyst, which are very important from commercial and economical points of view, are comprehensively discussed in this review.

Copper catalysed Ullmann type chemistry: from mechanistic aspects to modern development

Cu-catalysed arylation reactions devoted to the formation of C-C and C-heteroatom bonds (Ullmann-type couplings) have acquired great importance in the last decade. This review discusses the history and development of coupling reactions between aryl halides and various classes of nucleophiles, focusing mostly on the different mechanisms proposed through the years. Selected mechanistic investigations are treated more in depth than others. For example, evidence in favour or against radical mechanisms is discussed. Cu(I) and Cu(III) complexes involved in the Ullmann reaction and N/O selectivity in aminoalcohol arylation are discussed. A separate section has been dedicated to the synthesis of heterocyclic rings through intramolecular couplings. Finally, recent developments in green chemistry for these reactions, such as reactions in aqueous media and heterogeneous catalysis, have also been reviewed.

Disulfides as efficient thiolating reagents enabling selective bis-sulfenylation of aryl dihalides under mild copper-catalyzed conditions

Selective bis-sulfenylation reactions of aryl dihalides have been achieved by copper-catalyzed C–S coupling reactions under mild conditions of refluxing EtOH (80 °C).

C-Arylation reactions catalyzed by CuO-nanoparticles under ligand free conditions

CuO-nanoparticles were found to be an excellent heterogeneous catalyst for C-arylation of active methylene compounds using various aryl halides. The products were obtained in good to excellent yield. The catalyst can be recovered and reused for four cycles with almost no loss in activity.

A general and efficient approach to aryl thiols: CuI-catalyzed coupling of aryl iodides with sulfur and subsequent reduction

A CuI-catalyzed coupling reaction of aryl iodides and sulfur powder takes place in the presence of K(2)CO(3) at 90 degrees C. The coupling mixture is directly treated with NaBH(4) or triphenylphosphine to afford aryl thiols in good to excellent yields. A wide range of substituted aryl thiols that bear methoxy, hydroxyl, carboxylate, amido, keto, bromo, and fluoro groups can be assembled through this procedure.