Ultrasound, an efficient and virtually innocuous means of activation in synthetic chemistry, has been employed for decades with varied success. Not only can this high-energy input enhance mechanical effects in heterogeneous processes, but it is also known to induce new reactivities leading to the formation of unexpected chemical species. What makes sonochemistry unique is the remarkable phenomenon of cavitation, currently the subject of intense research which has already yielded thought-provoking results. This critical review is aimed at discussing the present status of cavitational chemistry and some of the underlying phenomena, and to highlight some recent applications and trends in organic sonochemistry, especially in combination with other sustainable technologies. (151 references.).

Power ultrasound in organic synthesis: moving cavitational chemistry from academia to innovative and large-scale applications

The last 15 years of hydroformylation and carbonylation chemistry are reviewed, including technical and commercial aspects.

Progress in hydroformylation and carbonylation

Transition Metal-Catalyzed Carbocyclizations in Organic Synthesis.

The increasing demand for stable isotopically labeled compounds has led to an increased interest in H/D-exchange reactions at carbon centers. Today deuterium-labeled compounds are used as internal standards in mass spectrometry or to help elucidate mechanistic theories. Access to these deuterated compounds takes place significantly more efficiently and more cost effectively by exchange of hydrogen by deuterium in the target molecule than by classical synthesis. This Review will concentrate on the preparative application of the H/D-exchange reaction in the preparation of deuterium-labeled compounds. Advances over the last ten years are brought together and critically evaluated.

The renaissance of H/D exchange.

http://web4.uwindsor.ca/users/j/jlichaa/reference.nsf/0/10ff8b04ff3a317885256d88005720f6/$FILE/tet-2000-56-3262-brummond.pdf

Recent Advances in the Pauson–Khand Reaction and Related [2+2+1] Cycloadditions

Hydrogen isotopes are unique tools for identifying and understanding biological and chemical processes. Hydrogen isotope labelling allows for the traceless and direct incorporation of an additional mass or radioactive tag into an organic molecule with almost no changes in its chemical structure, physical properties, or biological activity. Using deuterium-labelled isotopologues to study the unique mass-spectrometric patterns generated from mixtures of biologically relevant molecules drastically simplifies analysis. Such methods are now providing unprecedented levels of insight in a wide and continuously growing range of applications in the life sciences and beyond. Tritium (3 H), in particular, has seen an increase in utilization, especially in pharmaceutical drug discovery. The efforts and costs associated with the synthesis of labelled compounds are more than compensated for by the enhanced molecular sensitivity during analysis and the high reliability of the data obtained. In this Review, advances in the application of hydrogen isotopes in the life sciences are described.

/pdf/deuterium-and-tritium-labelled-compounds-applications-in-the-1q739u5gx2.pdf

Deuterium- and Tritium-Labelled Compounds: Applications in the Life Sciences

The various applications of hydrogen isotopes (deuterium, D, and tritium, T) in the physical and life sciences demand a range of methods for their installation in an array of molecular architectures. In this Review, we describe recent advances in synthetic C-H functionalisation for hydrogen isotope exchange.

/pdf/c-h-functionalisation-for-hydrogen-isotope-exchange-3q114i08b8.pdf

C-H Functionalisation for Hydrogen Isotope Exchange.

The wide range of applications involving hydrogen isotopes in drug discovery and beyond dictates that their selective and efficient installation continues to present an important and continuing challenge to synthetic chemists. In this review advances in the field of hydrogen isotope exchange over the last ten years and related hydrogen isotope applications in a broad spectrum of disciplinary areas are brought together.

William J. Kerr

Papers

Deuterium- and Tritium-Labelled Compounds: Applications in the Life Sciences

C-H Functionalisation for Hydrogen Isotope Exchange.

Deuterium- und tritiummarkierte Verbindungen: Anwendungen in den modernen Biowissenschaften

Methoden der C-H-Funktionalisierung für den Wasserstoffisotopenaustausch

Development of modified Pauson-Khand reactions with ethylene and utilisation in the total synthesis of (+)-taylorione