Nature CatalysisPub Date : 2024-08-29DOI: 10.1038/s41929-024-01218-0
Christine Lucky, Shengli Jiang, Chien-Rung Shih, Victor M. Zavala, Marcel Schreier
{"title":"Understanding the interplay between electrocatalytic C(sp3)‒C(sp3) fragmentation and oxygenation reactions","authors":"Christine Lucky, Shengli Jiang, Chien-Rung Shih, Victor M. Zavala, Marcel Schreier","doi":"10.1038/s41929-024-01218-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-024-01218-0","url":null,"abstract":"Achieving the selective electrocatalytic activation of C(sp3)–C(sp3) and C(sp3)−H bonds is key to enabling the electricity-driven synthesis of chemicals, the sustainable upgrading of plastics and the development of fuel cells operating on energy-dense liquid fuels. When exposed to electrodes under oxidative bias, hydrocarbons undergo both C–C bond fragmentation and oxygenation. Currently, we lack control over the bifurcation of these pathways. Here we provide insights into the complex network of alkyl transformation reactions, showing that under oxidizing potentials, adsorbed butane transforms to adsorbed CHx fragments, which can be desorbed as methane before oxidation to adsorbed CO. Identifying the branchpoint between C‒C fragmentation and oxygenation allowed us to steer selectivity by applying pulsed potentials tailored to the desorption potential of specific adsorbates and the kinetics of intermediate oxidation. Our findings provide design criteria for improved fuel cell catalysts and open the door to selective C‒C cleavage in electrosynthetic pathways. The electrochemical activation of alkanes on metal catalysts is a complex process that is not fully understood. Now an electrochemical protocol is put forward to isolate the adsorption, fragmentation and oxygenation potential-dependent steps of butane activation on a platinum electrode and derive its intricate reaction network.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"7 9","pages":"1021-1031"},"PeriodicalIF":42.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142089960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature CatalysisPub Date : 2024-08-27DOI: 10.1038/s41929-024-01195-4
{"title":"Organocatalytic acylation of remote arene C–H bonds","authors":"","doi":"10.1038/s41929-024-01195-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-024-01195-4","url":null,"abstract":"Site-selective acylation of remote arene C(sp2)−H bonds is achieved through N-heterocyclic carbene organocatalysis. This catalytic transformation proceeds through a nitrogen radical-mediated pathway and enables the late-stage modification of drugs, amino acids and peptides under mild conditions.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"7 8","pages":"864-865"},"PeriodicalIF":42.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142084591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature CatalysisPub Date : 2024-08-27DOI: 10.1038/s41929-024-01208-2
Ju Byeong Chae, Annika R. Holm, Liviu M. Mirica
{"title":"Radical control for enantioselective Csp3–Csp3 cross-coupling","authors":"Ju Byeong Chae, Annika R. Holm, Liviu M. Mirica","doi":"10.1038/s41929-024-01208-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-024-01208-2","url":null,"abstract":"The enantioselective formation of Csp3–Csp3 bonds is still a substantial challenge in the synthesis of complex molecules. Now, a photocatalytic system has been developed for the enantioselective alkylation of α-amino Csp3−H bonds that promotes the generation of two different alkyl radicals, followed by their cross-coupling at a chiral nickel centre.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"7 8","pages":"857-859"},"PeriodicalIF":42.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142084598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature CatalysisPub Date : 2024-08-27DOI: 10.1038/s41929-024-01212-6
Amani M. Ebrahim
{"title":"Reshaping catalysis beyond the conventional","authors":"Amani M. Ebrahim","doi":"10.1038/s41929-024-01212-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-024-01212-6","url":null,"abstract":"The catalysis Gordon Research Conference is a much-anticipated biennial gathering of the community to discuss the frontiers in design and development of catalytic materials and processes. Amani Ebrahim briefly touches upon this year’s themes centred on enabling technologies for sustainable societies.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"7 8","pages":"860-861"},"PeriodicalIF":42.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142084605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature CatalysisPub Date : 2024-08-27DOI: 10.1038/s41929-024-01210-8
{"title":"A structured catalyst for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis","authors":"","doi":"10.1038/s41929-024-01210-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-024-01210-8","url":null,"abstract":"A heterogeneous nucleation strategy is used to synthesize a NiFe oxygen evolution reaction catalyst for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis. The resulting catalyst has high electrochemical activity and achieves a stable performance for over 21 months owing to a dense interlayer, which anchors the catalytic layer to the metal substrate.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"7 8","pages":"866-867"},"PeriodicalIF":42.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142084629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature CatalysisPub Date : 2024-08-27DOI: 10.1038/s41929-024-01196-3
Sneha Nayak, Laura K. G. Ackerman-Biegasiewicz
{"title":"Harnessing electron-rich arenes in nickel photoredox catalysis","authors":"Sneha Nayak, Laura K. G. Ackerman-Biegasiewicz","doi":"10.1038/s41929-024-01196-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-024-01196-3","url":null,"abstract":"Nickel photoredox catalysis is often limited to electron-deficient and neutral arenes. Arylthianthrenium salts can now be used as redox-active reagents to afford general reactivity with electron-rich arenes.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"7 8","pages":"855-856"},"PeriodicalIF":42.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142084630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature CatalysisPub Date : 2024-08-27DOI: 10.1038/s41929-024-01201-9
{"title":"Identifying restructured motifs on iridium oxide catalyst surfaces for water electrolysis","authors":"","doi":"10.1038/s41929-024-01201-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-024-01201-9","url":null,"abstract":"Using electron- and X-ray-based characterization techniques, three paracrystalline structural motifs are shown to form at the surface of amorphized iridium oxide catalysts upon use for water electrolysis in acidic conditions. An iridium oxide catalyst containing only these paracrystalline structural motifs achieves enhanced performance, making more efficient use of its limited iridium content.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"7 8","pages":"862-863"},"PeriodicalIF":42.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142084600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature CatalysisPub Date : 2024-08-19DOI: 10.1038/s41929-024-01205-5
Ibrahim Khalil, Marco Giulio Rigamonti, Kwinten Janssens, Aram Bugaev, Daniel Arenas Esteban, Sven Robijns, Thibaut Donckels, Mostafa Torka Beydokhti, Sara Bals, Dirk De Vos, Michiel Dusselier
{"title":"Atomically dispersed ruthenium hydride on beta zeolite as catalysts for the isomerization of muconates","authors":"Ibrahim Khalil, Marco Giulio Rigamonti, Kwinten Janssens, Aram Bugaev, Daniel Arenas Esteban, Sven Robijns, Thibaut Donckels, Mostafa Torka Beydokhti, Sara Bals, Dirk De Vos, Michiel Dusselier","doi":"10.1038/s41929-024-01205-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-024-01205-5","url":null,"abstract":"Searching for sustainable polymers requires access to biomass-based monomers. In that sense, glucose-derived cis,cis-muconic acid stands as a high-potential intermediate. However, to unlock its potential, an isomerization to the value-added trans,trans-isomer, trans,trans-muconic acid, is required. Here we develop atomically dispersed low-loaded Ru on beta zeolite catalysts that produce trans,trans-muconate in ethanol with total conversion (to equilibrium) and a selectivity of >95%. We reach very high turnovers per Ru and productivity rates of 427 mM h−1 (~85 g l−1 h−1), surpassing the bio-based cis,cis-muconic acid production rates by an order of magnitude. By coupling isomerization to Diels–Alder cycloaddition, terephthalate intermediates are produced in around 90% yields, circumventing the isomer equilibrium. Isomerization is promoted by Ru hydride species where the hydrides are generated from the alcohol solvent, as evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Beyond isomerization, the Ru–zeolite and its hydride-forming capacity could be of use as a heterogeneous catalyst for other hydride chemistries, demonstrated by a successful hydride transfer hydrogenation. Muconic acid is an important bio-based chemical; however its applications are limited by the lack of efficient methods to access its trans,trans-isomer. Here the authors address this problem with a catalyst based on single Ru atoms dispersed on zeolite BEA that is capable of unlocking hydride chemistries.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"7 8","pages":"921-933"},"PeriodicalIF":42.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142007382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Overcoming limitations in non-activated alkene cross-coupling with nickel catalysis and anionic ligands","authors":"Dong Wu, Weiyu Kong, Yang Bao, Chengmi Huang, Wei Liu, Yuqiang Li, Guoyin Yin","doi":"10.1038/s41929-024-01211-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-024-01211-7","url":null,"abstract":"Multicomponent cross-coupling reactions involving alkenes represent a compelling strategy for accessing three-dimensional molecules, a key pursuit in contemporary medicinal chemistry. Transition metal-catalysed processes predominantly necessitate the use of conjugated alkenes or non-activated alkenes equipped with specific auxiliary functional groups, for example, 8-aminoquinoline. However, it remains a huge challenge to directly use unmodified native functional groups, such as alcohols and ethers, as directing groups. Here, by utilizing an anionic bidentate ligand such as acac, we have successfully addressed the challenge of employing weakly coordinating native functional groups as directing groups in a nickel-catalysed cross-coupling of non-activated alkenes. This reaction enables the simultaneous introduction of an sp2 fragment and an sp3 fragment to two carbons of the alkenes with high chemo- and regioselectivity. This work demonstrates the advantages and potential of anionic bidentate ligands in the cross-coupling of non-activated alkenes. The transition metal-catalysed multicomponent cross-coupling of alkenes currently relies on strongly coordinating groups to direct the reactivity. Now Wu et al. present a nickel catalyst that enables the installation of sp2 and sp3 fragments on alkenes using alcohols and ethers as directing groups.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"7 11","pages":"1154-1164"},"PeriodicalIF":42.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141986498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature CatalysisPub Date : 2024-08-14DOI: 10.1038/s41929-024-01206-4
Ricardo I. Rodríguez, Vasco Corti, Lorenzo Rizzo, Stefano Visentini, Marco Bortolus, Agnese Amati, Mirco Natali, Giorgio Pelosi, Paolo Costa, Luca Dell’Amico
{"title":"Radical strain-release photocatalysis for the synthesis of azetidines","authors":"Ricardo I. Rodríguez, Vasco Corti, Lorenzo Rizzo, Stefano Visentini, Marco Bortolus, Agnese Amati, Mirco Natali, Giorgio Pelosi, Paolo Costa, Luca Dell’Amico","doi":"10.1038/s41929-024-01206-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41929-024-01206-4","url":null,"abstract":"The increasing popularity of four-member rings in drug discovery has prompted the synthetic chemistry community to advance and reinvent old strategies to craft these structures. Recently, the strain-release concept has been used to build complex architectures. However, although there are many strategies for accessing small carbocyclic derivatives, the synthesis of azetidines remains underdeveloped. Here we report a photocatalytic radical strategy for accessing densely functionalized azetidines from azabicyclo[1.1.0]butanes. The protocol operates with an organic photosensitizer, which finely controls the key energy-transfer process with distinct types of sulfonyl imines. The radical intermediates are intercepted by the azabicyclo[1.1.0]butanes via a radical strain-release process, providing access to difunctionalized azetidines in a single step. This radical process is revealed by a combination of spectroscopic and optical techniques and density functional theory calculations. The power and generality of this method is illustrated with the synthesis of various azetidine targets, including derivatives of celecoxib and naproxen. Four-membered rings have become popular motifs in drug discovery, prompting the synthetic organic chemistry community to develop more expedite approaches to access these scaffolds. Here, the authors report a photocatalytic radical strategy for accessing densely functionalized azetidines from azabicyclo[1.1.0]butanes.","PeriodicalId":18845,"journal":{"name":"Nature Catalysis","volume":"7 11","pages":"1223-1231"},"PeriodicalIF":42.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41929-024-01206-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141980821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}