Advances in Wacker oxidation: From palladium to first-row transition metal catalysts

Abstract

The widespread presence of carbonyl scaffolds in agrochemical and pharmaceutical compound libraries has led to an increased focus on creating sustainable and effective processes for transforming olefins into their carbonyl derivatives. The first breakthrough was made possible by the Wacker method, which transformed alkenes into aldehydes or ketones by utilizing the mutually exclusive interactions of palladium and copper. Replacing palladium with a readily available and affordable metal has the potential to revolutionize the Wacker-type oxidation (WTOx), making it a more environmentally friendly and economically feasible method for olefin oxidation. This review explores the recent advances in WTOx, emphasizing the mechanistic insights and innovations in catalytic systems that enable the selective oxidation of olefins. It emphasizes the shift from noble metals to first-row transition metal catalysts for more sustainable synthetic applications. Advancements in palladium-catalyzed Wacker systems have led to significant improvements in yields, regioselectivity, and functional group tolerance. These improvements have been achieved through the use of novel ligands, oxidants, and reaction conditions.