Emerging trends in CO carbonylation

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO), a simple yet versatile C1 building block, plays a pivotal role in modern synthetic chemistry, offering unique reactivity and sustainability potential. Recent advances in carbonylation chemistry have expanded the field. Transition-metal-catalyzed carbonylation has seen progress in catalyst design, including earth-abundant metals and innovative ligands, improving selectivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Ionic carbonylation has benefited from frustrated Lewis pairs, enabling milder conditions and broader substrate scopes, while radical carbonylation, leveraging photochemical and single-electron pathways, has unlocked novel transformations. These advancements highlight CO’s potential to address key challenges in catalysis and carbon neutrality by converting industrial CO emissions into value-added products. Moving forward, opportunities include expanding substrate compatibility, replacing noble metals, and integrating emerging technologies like flow chemistry and AI-driven catalyst design. These developments underscore the transformative impact of CO chemistry on sustainable synthesis and its vital role in addressing global environmental challenges.