Earth-Abundant 3d Transition Metal Catalysts for Hydroalkoxylation and Hydroamination of Unactivated Alkenes

This review summarizes the most noteworthy achievements in the field of C–O and C–N bond formation by hydroalkoxylation and hydroamination reactions on unactivated alkenes (including 1,2- and 1,3-dienes) promoted by earth-abundant 3d transition metal catalysts based on manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc. The relevant literature from 2012 until early 2021 has been covered.

ZnI2/Zn(OTf)2-TsOH: a versatile combined-acid system for catalytic intramolecular hydrofunctionalization and polyene cyclization

A mild and efficient combined-acid system using a zinc(ii) salt [ZnI2 or Zn(OTf)2] and p-toluene sulfonic acid (TsOH) was investigated for catalytic cationic cyclizations, including intramolecular hydrocarboxylation, hydroalkoxylation, hydroamination, hydroamidation, hydroarylation and polyene cyclizations. This reaction provides easy access to five- and six-membered O- and N-containing saturated heterocyclic compounds, tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives and polycyclic skeletons in excellent yield with perfect Markovnikov selectivity and under mild conditions. The operational simplicity, broad applicability, and use of inexpensive commercially available catalysts make this protocol superior to existing methodologies.

First-Row Late Transition Metals for Catalytic Alkene Hydrofunctionalisation: Recent Advances in C-N, C-O and C-P Bond Formation

This review provides an outline of the most noteworthy achievements in the area of C-N, C-O and C-P bond formation by hydroamination, hydroalkoxylation, hydrophosphination, hydrophosphonylation or hydrophosphinylation reaction on unactivated alkenes (including 1,2- and 1,3-dienes) promoted by first-row late transition metal catalytic systems based on manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc. The relevant literature from 2009 until mid-2017 has been covered.

Encaging Palladium Nanoparticles in Chitosan Modified Montmorillonite for Efficient, Recyclable Catalysts

Metal nanoparticles, once supported by a suitable scaffolding material, can be used as highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts for numerous organic reactions. The challenge, though, is to mitigate the continuous loss of metals from the supporting materials as reactions proceed, so that the catalysts can be recycled multiple times. Herein, we combine the excellent chelating property of chitosan (CS) and remarkable stability of montmorillonite (MMT) into a composite material to support metal catalysts such as palladium (Pd). The in situ reduction of Pd²⁺ into Pd⁰ in the interstices of MMT/CS composites effectively encages the Pd⁰ nanoparticles in the porous matrices, while still allowing for reactant and product molecules of relatively small sizes to diffuse in and out the matrices. The prepared Pd⁰@MMT/CS catalysts are highly active for the Heck reactions of aromatic halides and alkenes, and can be recycled 30 times without significant loss of activities. Positron annihilation lifetime analysis and other structural characterization methods are implemented to elucidate the unique compartmentalization of metal catalysts in the composite matrices. As both CS and MMT are economical and abundant materials in nature, this approach may facilitate a versatile platform for developing highly recyclable, heterogeneous catalysts containing metal nanoparticles.