A wide array of forms of palladium has been utilized as precatalysts for Heck and Suzuki coupling reactions over the last 15 years. Historically, nearly every form of palladium used has been described as the active catalytic species. However, recent research has begun to shed light on the in situ transformations that many palladium precatalysts undergo during and before the catalytic reaction, and there are now many suggestions in the literature that narrow the scope of types of palladium that may be considered true “catalysts” in these coupling reactions. In this work, for each type of precatalyst, the recent literature is summarized and the type(s) of palladium that are proposed to be truly active are enumerated. All forms of palladium, including discrete soluble palladium complexes, solid-supported metal ligand complexes, supported palladium nano- and macroparticles, soluble palladium nanoparticles, soluble ligand-free palladium, and palladium-exchanged oxides are considered and reviewed here. A considerable focus is placed on solid precatalysts and on evidence for and against catalysis by solid surfaces vs. soluble species when starting with various precatalysts. The review closes with a critical overview of various control experiments or tests that have been used by authors to assess the homogeneity or heterogeneity of catalyst systems.

On the Nature of the Active Species in Palladium Catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck and Suzuki–Miyaura Couplings – Homogeneous or Heterogeneous Catalysis, A Critical Review

Organic chemists have always been fascinated by the cyclopropane subunit.1 The smallest cycloalkane is found as a basic structural element in a wide range of naturally occurring compounds.2 Moreover, many cyclopropane-containing unnatural products have been prepared to test the bonding features of this class of highly strained cycloalkanes3 and to study enzyme mechanism or inhibition.4 Cyclopropanes have also been used as versatile synthetic intermediates in the synthesis of more functionalized cycloalkanes5,6 and acyclic compounds.7 In recent years, most of the synthetic efforts have focused on the enantioselective synthesis of cyclopropanes.8 This has remained a challenge ever since it was found that the members of the pyrethroid class of compounds were effective insecticides.9 New and more efficient methods for the preparation of these entities in enantiomerically pure form are still evolving, and this review will focus mainly on the new methods that have appeared in the literature since 1989. It will elaborate on only three types of stereoselective cyclopropanation reactions from olefins: the halomethylmetal-mediated cyclopropanation reactions (eq 1), the transition metal-catalyzed decomposition of diazo compounds (eq 2), and the nucleophilic addition-ring closure sequence (eqs 3 and 4). These three processes will be examined in the context of diastereoand enantiocontrol. In the last section of the review, other methods commonly used to make chiral, nonracemic cyclopropanes will be briefly outlined.

Stereoselective Cyclopropanation Reactions

Large-scale applications of transition metal-catalyzed couplings for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals.

Recent Advances in Polyoxometalate-Catalyzed Reactions

The legacy of Gilbert Newton Lewis (1875-1946) pervades the lexicon of chemical bonding and reactivity. The power of his concept of donor-acceptor bonding is evident in the eponymous foundations of electron-pair acceptors (Lewis acids) and donors (Lewis bases). Lewis recognized that acids are not restricted to those substances that contain hydrogen (Bronsted acids), and helped overthrow the "modern cult of the proton". His discovery ushered in the use of Lewis acids as reagents and catalysts for organic reactions. However, in recent years, the recognition that Lewis bases can also serve in this capacity has grown enormously. Most importantly, it has become increasingly apparent that the behavior of Lewis bases as agents for promoting chemical reactions is not merely as an electronic complement of the cognate Lewis acids: in fact Lewis bases are capable of enhancing both the electrophilic and nucleophilic character of molecules to which they are bound. This diversity of behavior leads to a remarkable versatility for the catalysis of reactions by Lewis bases.

Lewis Base Catalysis in Organic Synthesis

A catalytic enantioselective reaction using a C2-symmetric disulfonamide as a chiral ligand: Alkylation of aldehydes catalyzed by disulfonamide-Ti(O-i-Pr)4-Dialkyl zinc system

An assembled insoluble catalyst, PdAS, prepared from palladium ((NH4)2PdCl4 (1)) and non-cross-linked amphiphilic copolymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-4-diphenylstyrylphosphine) (2) was developed. It was found that PdAS is an excellent catalyst for the Suzuki−Miyaura reaction on three points:  (1) The use of 8 × 10-7 to 5 × 10-4 mol equiv of PdAS afforded the coupling products efficiently after easy workup, with the turnover number reaching up to 1 250 000. (2) The catalyst was reusable many times without loss of catalytic activity. (3) PdAS showed good stability in any reaction medium (i.e., water or aqueous or anhydrous organic solvents). Analytical study of PdAS indicates that the phosphines in 2 coordinate to palladium to form PdCl2(PPh2Ar)2 species.

Highly active catalyst for the heterogeneous Suzuki-Miyaura reaction: assembled complex of palladium and non-cross-linked amphiphilic polymer.

Enantioselective alkylation of aldehyde catalyzed by disulfonamide-Ti(O-i-Pr)4-dialkyl zinc system

https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1016/S0014-5793%2804%2900164-4

Hideyo Takahashi

Papers

A catalytic enantioselective reaction using a C2-symmetric disulfonamide as a chiral ligand: Alkylation of aldehydes catalyzed by disulfonamide-Ti(O-i-Pr)4-Dialkyl zinc system

Highly active catalyst for the heterogeneous Suzuki-Miyaura reaction: assembled complex of palladium and non-cross-linked amphiphilic polymer.

Enantioselective alkylation of aldehyde catalyzed by disulfonamide-Ti(O-i-Pr)4-dialkyl zinc system

Novel biological function of sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid) as a hydrogen peroxide scavenger.

A Recyclable Catalytic System Based on a Temperature‐Responsive Catalyst