Publications

The formation of transient hybrid nanoscale metal species from homogeneous molecular precatalysts has been demonstrated by in situ NMR studies of catalytic reactions involving transition metals with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (M/NHC). These hybrid structures provide benefits of both molecular complexes and nanoparticles, enhancing the activity, selectivity, flexibility, and regulation of active species. However, they are challenging to identify experimentally due to the unsuitability of standard methods used for homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysis. Utilizing a sophisticated solid-state NMR technique, we provide evidence for the formation of NHC-ligated catalytically active Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) from Pd/NHC complexes during catalysis. The coordination of NHCs via C(NHC)-Pd bonding to the metal surface was first confirmed by observing the Knight shift in the 13C NMR spectrum of the frozen reaction mixture. Computational modeling revealed that as little as few NHC ligands are sufficient for complete ligation of the surface of the formed PdNPs. Catalytic experiments combined with in situ NMR studies confirmed the significant effect of surface covalently bound NHC ligands on the catalytic properties of the PdNPs formed by decomposition of the Pd/NHC complexes. This observation shows the crucial influence of NHC ligands on the activity and stability of nanoparticulate catalytic systems.

This review explores the pivotal role of sulfur in advancing sustainable carbon-carbon (C–C) coupling reactions. The unique electronic properties of sulfur, as a soft Lewis base with significant mesomeric effect make it an excellent candidate for initiating radical transformations, directing C–H-activation, and facilitating cycloaddition and C–S bond dissociation reactions. These attributes are crucial for developing waste-free methodologies in green chemistry. Our mini-review is focused on existing sulfur-directed C–C coupling techniques, emphasizing their sustainability and comparing state-of-the-art methods with traditional approaches. The review highlights the importance of this research in addressing current challenges in organic synthesis and catalysis. The innovative use of sulfur in photocatalytic, electrochemical and metal-catalyzed processes not only exemplifies significant advancements in the field but also opens new avenues for environmentally friendly chemical processes. By focusing on atom economy and waste minimization, the analysis provides broad appeal and potential for future developments in sustainable organic chemistry.

In the realm of modern organic chemistry, harnessing the power of multicomponent radical reactions presents both significant challenges and extraordinary potential. This article delves into this scientific frontier by addressing the critical issue of controlling selectivity in such complex processes. We introduce a novel approach that revolves around the reversible addition of thiyl radicals to multiple bonds, reshaping the landscape of multicomponent radical reactions. The key to selectivity lies in the intricate interplay between reversibility and the energy landscapes governing C-C bond formation in thiol-yne-ene reactions. The developed approach not only allows to prioritize the thiol-yne-ene cascade, dominating over alternative reactions, but also extends the scope of coupling products obtained from alkenes and alkynes of various structures and electron density distributions, regardless of their relative polarity difference, opening doors to more versatile synthetic possibilities. In the present study, we provide a powerful tool for atom-economical C-S and C-C bond formation, paving the way for the efficient synthesis of complex molecules. Carrying out our experimental and computational studies, we elucidated the fundamental mechanisms underlying radical cascades, a knowledge that can be broadly applied in the field of organic chemistry.

Carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom bond formation mediated by transition metals is a powerful and convenient methodology for organic synthesis. To effectively meet the demands of catalyst design, an in-depth understanding of the reaction mechanisms and pathways of active species evolution is essential. Advances in electron microscopy now offer unprecedented multilevel visualization of liquid-phase chemical systems, providing a powerful tool for mechanistic studies. In this work, we found that the use of either nickel- or copper-based catalyst precursors with preinstalled thiolate groups in combination with pyridinium ionic liquid as the reaction medium leads to a positive synergistic effect, resulting in the formation of transition metal species with high catalytic activity in the C–S cross-coupling reaction between aryl halides and thiols or disulfides. Through multiscale in situ and operando electron microscopy in the liquid phase, we elucidated the self-adjustment of the catalytic system and revealed the simultaneous emergence of metallic nanoparticles and corresponding thiolate species, leading to the independent activation of the C- and S-substrates and the subsequent elimination of the product via organic group metathesis. The proposed methodology for the catalytic preparation of aromatic organosulfides was used for the design of synthetic routes to pharmacologically important substances.

The influence of catalysis on the development of modern science and industry cannot be overestimated. Production of pharmaceutical substances and drugs, the oil industry, developments in the field of ecology and material science, and many other areas with a great impact on the world economy are progressing through the active use of catalysts. In the almost two hundred years that have passed since the description of the phenomenon of catalysis, the understanding of the principle of operation of catalysts has developed to a very high degree. Initially, it was assumed that the catalyst remains unchanged in the reaction in which it participates, while it is now well established that catalysis is a dynamic phenomenon in many systems. Catalytically active particles change as the catalyzed reaction proceeds and pass from one phase to another, which often leads to significant changes in catalytic activity and selectivity. In many cases, uncontrolled dynamic changes in the catalytic system lead to degradation and a loss of activity and selectivity. Understanding the mechanisms of the dynamic nature of active centers is very important for designing highly active catalysts, which in turn will have a positive impact on the environment, industry, economics, and numerous other areas.

Fine chemical synthesis is the key area of industry and academic research, with a strong focus on catalytic C–C bond formation targeted at drug design, biologically active compounds and new materials. Until recently, such catalytic technologies had been employed without a rigorous analysis of a plausible ecological impact, which is now a key question that cannot be neglected. In this work, we experimentally classified the complete range of harmful compounds used in common Sonogashira and Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reactions by means of bio-Profiles (bio-Strips) built on the basis of 24 h CC 50 values of individual reaction substances measured in three cell lines of different origins. For a comprehensive evaluation, 864 individual reactions and 2592 bio-Strips supplemented with bio-factors (BFs) and cytotoxicity potentials (CPs) were evaluated. According to the results, from the viewpoint of the contribution of the tested chemicals to the "overall cytotoxicity" of the synthetic routes analyzed, close attention should be paid to the selection of the catalysts due to their high cytotoxicity and to the solvents because they are used in significant quantities in the reaction. The choice of the base can also have a significant impact on the bio-Profile, whereas the effect of the starting materials seems lower in comparison. We also describe a new approach to unambiguous and quantitative comparisons of biological objects (in this case, cell cultures) in terms of their response to the continually varying conditions in reaction systems. In addition, we support the earlier-suggested notion that the choice of a particular cell line for CC50 measurements can be of secondary importance for the resulting bio-Strips. Nevertheless, the actual cytotoxicity of a given compound should not be ignored when selecting the participant components for a target reaction, as evidenced by the newly introduced "tumor selectivity index" (tSI) of individual chemicals. A detailed analysis of these two practically important catalytic reactions also provides a guide and a global view for assessing the bio-risks of other catalytic processes.

Modern laboratory practices demand safer, efficient, and more green and sustainable solutions, especially given the often dangerous nature of the chemicals used. This study introduces a technique for addressing these challenges by encapsulating chemicals within 3D-printed polymeric cylinders designed for various chemical transformations. The studied encapsulation method not only exhibits reaction yields comparable to those of established methodologies, but also significantly increases the safety and procedural efficiency of laboratory practice. The specially designed capsules are soluble in prevalent organic solvents, facilitating the controlled release of their chemical contents when subjected to reactions. The inherent compatibility of these capsules with multiple reagents underscores their potential to be considered as a new approach in sustainable laboratory practices. Encapsulation technology presents a safer alternative to manual handling of volatile, toxic, and flammable reagents, thus mitigating potential hazards. This translates to a significant reduction in the risks associated with chemical handling while simultaneously simplifying traditional time-consuming procedures. Varying the geometric and chemical properties of the capsules allows for the encapsulation of a diverse range of substances and reactions, demonstrating their adaptability. Given its transformative potential, this technique provides new opportunities for future endeavors in the chemical domain. The approach of encapsulating chemicals could contribute to an expected digital discovery paradigm shift, ushering in an era of streamlined, safer, and sustainable chemical practices. The potential benefits, from safety to sustainability, of this approach make it appealing for a broad spectrum of chemical applications.

Supercapacitors (SCs) have emerged as critical components in applications ranging from transport to wearable electronics due to their rapid charge-discharge cycles, high power density, and reliability. This review offers an analysis of recent strides in supercapacitor research, emphasizing pivotal developments in sustainability, electrode materials, electrolytes, and 'smart SCs' designed for modern microelectronics with attributes such as flexibility, stretchability, and biocompatibility. Central to this discourse are two dominant electrode materials: carbon materials (CMs), primarily in Electric Double Layer Capacitors (EDLCs), and pseudocapacitive materials, involving oxides/hydroxides, chalcogenides, metal-organic frameworks, conductive polymers and metal nitrides such as MXene. Despite EDLCs' historical use, challenges such as low energy density persist, with heteroatom introduction into the carbon lattice posed as a solution. Concurrently, pseudocapacitive materials dominate recent studies, with efficiency enhancement strategies, such as the creation of hybrids based on different types of materials, surface structural engineering and doping, under exploration. Emphasis is given to smart SCs with novel attributes such as self-charging, self-healing, biocompatibility, and environmentally conscious designs. In summary, the article underscores the drive in sustainable supercapacitor research to achieve high energy and power density, steering towards SCs that are efficient and versatile and involving bioderived/biocompatible SC materials.

Palladium-based catalysts are of key importance in organic synthesis due to their versatility and tolerance for a wide range of functional groups. However, their use challenged by increasing sustainability issues and complex preparation methods. Consequently, the development of new heterogeneous catalysts with enhanced sustainability is of significant interest. Typically, the synthesis of carbon supports for palladium is associated with high energy consumption or the generation of substantial chemical waste, prompting extensive research into the creation of sustainable biological supports. In this study, the potential use of aerobic bacterial cells as a support for palladium nanoparticles was explored, using Paracoccus yeei VKM B-3302 as a model organism. Electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies demonstrated the formation of palladium particles on the cell surface as well as inside microorganisms following deposition from a solution. Control experiments established that bacterial cells do not interact with either the reactants or the products of selected cross-coupling processes. Furthermore, bacteria do not affect the analysis of reaction mixtures by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). At the same time, palladium/Paracoccus yeei demonstrated efficient catalysis of the Mizoroki-Heck and Suzuki-Miyaura reactions, yielding results comparable to commercial palladium on carbon (Pd/C) catalysts. Employing a fresh start procedure and catalyst separation method, the catalyst was successfully recycled and reused across five cycles, maintaining good catalytic activity. In a broader aspect, bacteria-supported biohybrid palladium catalysts can represent a new type of catalysts worth to explore in a number of processes, where sustainability issues are concerned.

In the areas of catalysis and organic chemistry, the development of versatile and efficient catalytic systems has long been a challenge, primarily due to the intricate relationship between ligands and transition metal centers. This study addresses this challenge by exploring the concept of ligand synergy to enhance the generality of catalytic systems, a crucial metric for their practical utility. By combining N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and phosphine ligands, we unveil a novel catalytic system that exhibits high level of generality in the Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling reaction. Our findings not only demonstrate the enhanced efficiency of this system, leading to the synthesis of valuable compounds with applications in organic electroluminescent devices and the pharmaceutical industry, but also shed light on the broader potential of ligand synergy in catalysis. Through machine learning analysis, we uncover the critical role of specific ligand properties, further paving the way for rational catalyst design.

The aim of the present study was to explore the transformations of heteroleptic and homoleptic Au( I) complexes in detail and to systematically map their chemical evolutionary pathways. The relationships between these Au(I) complexes and the formation of gold nanoparticles and between the leaching processes of Au species from nanoparticles by NHC carbenes were studied. Moreover, Au-based reaction systems exhibit a wide variety of gold complexes and metallic gold particles depending on the conditions. The evolutionary pathways and transformations of homoleptic and heteroleptic Au(I) complexes were mapped using NMR, ESI-HRMS and electron microscopy. Depending on the conditions, a diverse range of metallic gold nanoparticles was formed. Interestingly, the formation of an NHC-Au(I) complex during the leaching of Au species from metallic nanoparticles in the presence of NHC carbenes was also noted. Our findings illustrate that the composition of Au-based reaction systems can simultaneously include various gold complexes and gold particles, reinforcing the potential of gold complexes to activate and transform molecules in a variety of reactions. By studying and understanding the physical and chemical properties of NHC-Au(I) complexes and the transformations they undergo under various conditions, we provide new opportunities for future research using gold-based systems for the development of dynamic catalytic systems.

Aryl chlorides, due to their affordability and accessibility, are preferred reagents in Pd-catalyzed arylation reactions. However, the reactivity of aryl chlorides is often reduced compared to aryl bromides and iodides due to the significantly higher barriers of the oxidative addition stage. This research introduces a novel design for NHC ligands, which notably enhances the efficiency of Pd/NHC catalytic systems in reactions where oxidative addition of aryl chloride is the rate-limiting step. This design leverages a synergy between specific steric characteristics and the anionic nature of the newly fashioned 1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene ligands. These ligands, inspired by Nitron-type designs, can be ionized under basic conditions due to their NH-acidic aryl(alkyl)amino groups. Detailed experimental and DFT studies revealed that the deprotonation of these NHCs promotes electron donation to the metal center, promoting the oxidative addition of aryl chloride. The specially optimized ATPr ligand, featuring 2,6-diisopropylphenyl groups, displayed remarkable catalytic efficacy in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction and improved outcomes in ketone α-arylation and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions with unactivated aryl chlorides. The insights and strategies established in this study provide rational considerations for further advancements in NHC designs and their applications in metal-catalyzed reactions.

Metal-catalyzed asymmetric alkylation of indoles with α-diazoesters is well-known, however, the underlying mechanisms of this reaction, particularly the origin of stereoselectivity, remain uncertain. For the Pd catalysis, we address this cutting-edge challenge from two complementary viewpoints – i) the molecular level regarding a single catalytically active Pd center; and ii) nano-level Pd species investigating the factors favoring the appearance of the preferred catalytic centers. The formation of the active catalytic species was monitored by structural methods (NMR and ESI-MS), and metal particles were characterized with electron microscopy (SEM, EDX). On the molecular level, chiral bipyridine-N,N'-dioxides proved to be competent chiral controllers. The kinetic and DFT computational data revealed a crucial role of water in the rate and selectivity determining steps and showed that the enantioselectivity of the process is controlled by the protodepalladation step. On the nano-scale, the important effect of catalyst precursor on the overall reaction performance was shown.

Palladium complexes with N-heterocyclic carbenes (Pd/NHC) serve as prominent precatalysts in numerous Pd-catalyzed organic reactions. While the evolution of Pd/NHC complexes, which involves the cleavage of the Pd–C(NHC) bond via reductive elimination and dissociation, is acknowledged to influence the catalysis mechanism and the performance of the catalytic systems, conventional analytic techniques [such as NMR, IR, UV–vis, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)] frequently fail to quantitatively monitor the transformations of Pd/NHC complexes at catalyst concentrations typical of real-world conditions (below approximately 1 mol %). In this study, for the first time, we show the viability of using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). This approach was combined with the use of selectively deuterated H-NHC, Ph-NHC, and O-NHC coupling products as internal standards, allowing for an in-depth quantitative analysis of the evolution of Pd/NHC catalysts within actual catalytic systems. The reliability of this approach was affirmed by aligning the ESI-MS results with the NMR spectroscopy data obtained at greater Pd/NHC precatalyst concentrations (2–5 mol %) in the Mizoroki–Heck, Sonogashira, and alkyne transfer hydrogenation reactions. The efficacy of the ESI-MS methodology was further demonstrated through its application in the Mizoroki–Heck reaction at Pd/NHC loadings of 5, 0.5, 0.05, and 0.005 mol %. In this work, for the first time, we present a methodology for the quantitative characterization of pivotal catalyst transformation processes commonly observed in M/NHC systems.

Acetylene, among the multitude of organic molecules discovered in space, plays a distinct role in the genesis of organic matter. Characterized by its unique balance of stability and reactivity, acetylene is the simplest unsaturated organic molecule known to have a triple bond. In addition to its inherent chemical properties, acetylene is one of the most prevalent organic molecules found across the Universe, spanning from the icy surfaces of planets and satellites and the cold interstellar medium with low temperatures to hot circumstellar envelopes where temperatures surge to several thousand kelvins. These factors collectively position acetylene as a crucial building block in the molecular diversification of organic molecules and solids present in space. This review comprehensively discusses the formation and expansion of carbon skeletons involving acetylene, ranging from the formation of simple molecules to the origination of the first aromatic ring and ultimately to the formation of nanosized carbon particles. Mechanisms pertinent to both hot environments, such as circumstellar envelopes, and cold environments, including molecular clouds and planetary atmospheres, are explored. In addition, this review contemplates the role of acetylene in the synthesis of prebiotic molecules. A distinct focus is accorded to the recent advancements and future prospects of research into catalytic processes involving acetylene molecules, which is a significant instrument in driving the evolution of carbon complexity in the Universe. The insights garnered from this review underscore the significance of acetylene in astrochemistry and potentially contribute to our understanding of the chemical evolution of the Universe.

Carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom bond formations via direct reductive elimination as one of the possible mechanisms of reductive elimination in Pd(II) complexes are the key stages of catalytic processes in fine organic synthesis. For the (R)2Pd(L)2, (X)2Pd(L)2 and (R)(X)Pd(L)2 complexes (where R = Me, Vin, Ph, or Eth; X = B, N, O, Si, P, S, Se, or Te; L = PPh3), the R–R, R–X, and X–X bond formation barriers and reaction energies were calculated. The reaction barriers for C–C and C–X coupling decrease in the series Csp3 > Csp > Csp2. The activity of coupling groups X containing a heteroatom decreases in the series of heteroatoms P, S, Se ≫ N ≫ O (for Csp2 and Csp types of carbon centers) and P > S, Se ≫ N ≫ O (for Csp3 type of carbon center). The relationship between the structural lability of the (R)2Pd(L)2 complexes and the probability of reductive elimination was determined by DFT molecular dynamics. An analysis of the calculated bond formation barriers and reaction energy showed that, in most cases, their values for unsymmetrical RX coupling are intermediate between the values for the reactions of symmetrical RR and XX coupling. The influence of the electronic properties of the coupling groups on the stabilization of the cis form of the complexes, which are suitable pre-reaction complexes for reductive elimination, was shown. The additivity of the energy difference between the cis and trans isomers was established: the cis–trans isomerization energies for the (R)(X)Pd(L)2 complexes are intermediate between the corresponding energies for the (R)2Pd(L)2 and (X)2Pd(L)2 complexes. A high degree of additivity of the QTAIM charge of the palladium atom in all of the considered complexes was analyzed. In the present detailed study, we establish a hierarchy in bond formation barriers, emphasizing the influence of carbon center types, and discern the impact of coupling groups containing heteroatoms, revealing distinct trends based on carbon center types.

Constructing molecular complexity from simple precursors stands as a cornerstone in contemporary organic synthesis. Systems harnessing easily accessible starting materials, which offer control over stereochemistry and support a modular assembly approach, are particularly in demand. In this research, we utilized calcium carbide, presenting a sustainable pathway to generate acetylene gas - a fundamental C2 building block. We performed a Pt-facilitated linkage of two C2-units sourced from two calcium carbide molecules to craft a conjugated C4 core with exceptional stereoselectivity. As a benchmark, we selected the synthesis of (E,E)-1,4-diiodobuta-1,3-diene, executing it in a two-chamber reactor. Compartmentalization of the reactions across these chambers resulted in the desired product in 85% yield. Furthermore, highenergy polymeric substances were derived by marrying the molecular intricacy between (E,E)-1,4-diiodobuta-1,3-diene and calcium carbide, underpinning a unique C4 + C2 assembly blueprint. The structure and morphology of the polymeric material were characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Overall, two complementary 2×C2-to-C4 and (2×C2+C`2)×n assembly schemes were developed using Pt and Pd catalysis.

Cross-coupling reactions are among the most important transformations in modern organic synthesis. Although the range of reported (het)aryl halides and nucleophile coupling partners is very large considering various protocols, the reaction conditions vary considerably between compound classes, necessitating renewed case-by-case optimization of the reaction conditions. Here we introduce adaptive dynamic homogeneous catalysis (AD-HoC) with nickel under visible-light-driven redox reaction conditions for general C(sp2)–(hetero)atom coupling reactions. The self-adjustive nature of the catalytic system allowed the simple classification of dozens of various classes of nucleophiles in cross-coupling reactions. This is synthetically demonstrated in nine different bond-forming reactions (in this case, C(sp2)–S, Se, N, P, B, O, C(sp3, sp2, sp), Si, Cl) with hundreds of synthetic examples under predictable reaction conditions. The catalytic reaction centre(s) and conditions differ from one another by the added nucleophile, or if required, a commercially available inexpensive amine base.

An approach to the spatially localized characterization of supported catalysts over a reaction course is proposed. It consists of a combination of scanning, transmission, and high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy to determine metal particles from arrays of surface nanoparticles to individual nanoparticles and individual atoms. The study of the evolution of specific metal catalyst particles at different scale levels over time, particularly before and after the cross-coupling catalytic reaction, made it possible to approach the concept of 4D catalysis–tracking the positions of catalytic centers in space (3D) over time (+1D). The dynamic behavior of individual palladium atoms and nanoparticles in cross-coupling reactions was recorded with nanometer accuracy via the precise localization of catalytic centers. Single atoms of palladium leach out into solution from the support under the action of the catalytic system, where they exhibit extremely high catalytic activity compared to surface metal nanoparticles. Monoatomic centers, which make up only approximately 1% of palladium in the Pd/C system, provide more than 99% of the catalytic activity. The remaining palladium nanoparticles changed their shape and could move over the surface of the support, which was recorded by processing images of the array of nanoparticles with a neural network and aligning them using automatically detected keypoints. The study reveals a novel opportunity for single-atom catalysis─easier detachment (capture) from (on) the carbon support surface is the origin of superior catalytic activity, rather than the operation of single atomic catalytic centers on the surface of the support, as is typically assumed.

Fossil resources are rapidly depleting, forcing researchers in various fields of chemistry and materials science to switch to the use of renewable sources and the development of corresponding technologies. In this regard, the field of sustainable materials science is experiencing an extraordinary surge of interest in recent times due to the significant advances made in the development of new polymers with desired and controllable properties. This review summarizes important scientific reports in recent times dedicated to the synthesis, construction and computational studies of novel sustainable polymeric materials containing unchanged (pseudo)aromatic furan cores in their structure. Linear polymers for thermoplastics, branched polymers for thermosets and other crosslinked materials are emerging materials to highlight. Various polymer blends and composites based on sustainable polyfurans are also considered as pathways to achieve high-value-added products.

In this work, using a combination of scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), the transformations of palladium-containing species in imidazolium ionic liquids in reaction mixtures of the Mizoroki-Heck reaction and in related organic media are studied to understand a challenging question of the relative reactivity of organic halides as key substrates in modern catalytic technologies. The microscopy technique detects the formation of a stable nanosized palladium phase under the action of an aryl (Ar) halide capable of forming microcompartments in an ionic liquid. For the first time, the correlation between the reactivity of the aryl halide and the microdomain structure is observed: Ar-I (well-developed microdomains) > Ar-Br (microphase present) > Ar-Cl (minor amount of microphase). Previously, it is assumed that molecular level factors, namely, carbon-halogen bond strength and the ease of bond breakage, are the sole factors determining the reactivity of aryl halides in catalytic transformations. The present work reports a new factor connected with the nature of the organic substrates used and their ability to form a microdomain structure and concentrate metallic species, highlighting the importance of considering both the molecular and microscale properties of the reaction mixtures.

A common assumption that dimeric metal complexes in many catalytic systems represent a resting state and are not directly involved in catalytic processes was revised in a combined experimental and theoretical study. On-cycle participation of dimeric metal complexes, rather than typically assumed off-cycle involvement, was revealed, and advantageous performance in terms of improved selectivity was observed. The conceptual rationalization for the participation of dimeric species in the catalytic cycle was developed. The Pd-catalyzed hydrothiolation process (where strong Pd–S binding is well established and a persistent opinion for the inactive/poisoning role of dimeric species is presumed) was evaluated as a challenging system to test the concept. Activation of an (NHC)Pd(Cl)(acac) precatalyst (NHC─N-heterocyclic carbene and acac─acetylacetonate) under the reaction conditions produced monomeric (NHC)Pd(SPh) ₂ or dimeric (NHC)₂Pd₂(SPh)₄ species depending on the steric bulkiness of the NHC ligand. Dimeric complexes possessed higher selectivity and tolerated disulfide impurities in contrast to monomeric complexes. Quantum chemical modeling suggested that dimeric catalysis proceeds through the opening of only one (μ-SPh)–Pd bridging bond with retention of the dimeric structure. The second bridging bond is maintained, which prevents the monomerization of the complex. Catalytically active species were detected in a hydrothiolation reaction by high-resolution mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. Proving the opportunity for productive homogeneous catalysis via strongly coordinated dimeric metal species opens new opportunities for catalyst design in the increased nuclearity dimension.

For the first time, the transformation of biobased 5-HMF derivatives succeeded in a 2 × [4 + 2] cascade cycloaddition reaction, leading to a drastic (3–5-fold) increase in molecular complexity as a result of one synthetic step. A new approach to the use of plant biomass in organic synthesis using a cascade Diels–Alder reaction of 5-HMF dimer derivatives with alkynes has been developed. This reaction proceeds under thermodynamic control, diastereoselectively and regioselectively, providing rapid access to compounds of high molecular complexity with the same synthetic availability as previously obtained regular cycloadducts. As a concept illustration, under conditions of kinetic control, cycloadditions of two molecules of dienophiles are realized, and the resulting products, when heated, rearrange into thermodynamically more favorable cascade products. Reaction pathways were studied in detail using quantum chemical calculations to reveal major factors influencing the selectivity of the process. Discovery of a new sustainability pathway should be noted – to date, oligomeric derivatives are considered a waste of 5-HMF degradation, while the present study highlights them as a valuable material for the synthesis of nonplanar scaffolds.

Sustainable development of mankind urgently recalls for decreasing the cost of energy storage. Continuous massive consumption of dedicated carbon electrode materials with complex internal molecular architecture calls for re-thinking both the source of materials and the process of their production. Finding an efficient sustainable solution is focused on the reuse and development of waste processing into corresponding high-value-added carbon materials. The processing of solid wastes into solid value-added carbon materials ("solid-to-solid") is relatively well developed but can be a two-stage process involving carbon architecture rearrangement and heteroatom doping. Processing liquid wastes into high-value-added solid material ("liquid-to-solid") is typically much more challenging with the need for different production equipment. In the present study, a new approach is developed to bypass the difficulty in the "liquid-to-solid" conversion and simultaneously built in the ability for heteroatom doping within one production stage. Polycondensation of liquid humins waste with melamine (as a nitrogen-containing cross-linking component) results in solidification with preferential C and N atomic arrangements. For subsequent thermochemical conversion of the obtained solidified wastes, complicated equipment is no longer required, and under simple process conditions, carbon materials for energy storage with superior characteristics were obtained. A complete sequence is reported in the present study, including liquid waste processing, nitrogen incorporation, carbon material production, structural study of the obtained materials, detailed electrochemical evaluation and real supercapacitor device manufacture and testing.

This review addresses the largely overlooked yet critical issue of "dead" metal in heterogeneous metal catalysts. "Dead" metal refers to the fraction of metal in a catalyst that remains inaccessible to reactants, significantly reducing the overall catalyst performance. As a representative example considered in detail here, this challenge is particularly relevant for carbon-supported metal catalysts, extensively employed in research and industrial settings. We explore key factors contributing to the formation of "dead" metal, including the morphology of the support, metal atom intercalation within the support layers, encapsulation of metal nanoparticles, interference by organic molecules during catalyst preparation, and dynamic behavior under microwave irradiation. Notably, the review outlines a series of strategic approaches to mitigate the occurrence of "dead" metal during catalyst preparation, thus boosting the catalyst efficiency. The knowledge gathered is important for enhancing the preparation of catalysts, especially those containing precious metals. Beyond the practical implications for catalyst design, this study introduces a novel perspective for understanding and optimizing the catalyst performance. The insights are expected to broadly impact different scientific disciplines, empowered with heterogeneous catalysis and driving innovation in energy, environmental science, and materials chemistry, among others. Exploring the "dead" metal phenomenon and potential mitigation strategies brings the field closer to the ultimate goal of high-efficiency, low-cost catalysis

We introduce new quantitative environmental metrics - "cytotoxicity potentials" – which can be used for the preliminary evaluation of the safety of chemical reactions from the viewpoint of the cytotoxicity of their components. We also elaborate the concept of bio-Profiles to be employed for fast estimation of the potential environmental dangers of chemical processes by (1) including the common cytotoxicity scale for all routes of synthesis of a particular product and (2) proposing a novel, more compact representation of the bio-Profiles themselves in the form of bio-Strips. These improvements allow direct comparisons of various synthetic routes for a particular target product, thus providing faster assessment of the reactions in question from the viewpoint of their "overall cytotoxicity". The advantages of these developments are illustrated by 36 routes of synthesizing 1,1′-biphenyl and 72 routes of synthesizing 4-methoxy-1,1′-biphenyl. The effect of incomplete conversion on bio-Strips and their metrics is also discussed. In addition, we address the impact of the selection of a particular cell line on the evaluation of the reaction safety by comparing the results obtained in three cell lines of various origins.

C-Amino-1,2,4-triazoles are challenging polynitrogen substrates for metal-catalyzed arylation due to their multidentate character, enhanced coordinating ability and decreased nucleophilicity of the amino group. In the present study, the Buchwald–Hartwig cross-coupling of diverse 3(5)-amino-1,2,4-triazoles with aryl chlorides and bromides delivering (hetero)arylamino-1,2,4-triazoles in good-to-excellent yields under Pd/NHC catalysis was developed. The use of Pd complexes with bulky NHC ligands such as IPr*OMe and TPEDO (1,1,2,2-tetraphenylethane-1,2-diol) as an in situ Pd(II) to Pd(0) reductant enabled the selective arylation of the NH2 group even in acidic NH unprotected substrates and deactivated 1-substituted 5-amino- and 4-substituted 3-amino-1,2,4-triazoles. The reaction mechanism and structure–activity relationships were studied with DFT calculations. A significant effect of the position of the N-substituent in the 1,2,4-triazole ring on the favorable reaction pathways was revealed.

Additive manufacturing technologies (or 3D printing) have emerged as powerful tools for creating a diverse array of objects, promising a paradigm shift in production methodologies across industries. In chemistry, it allows the manufacturing of reactors with complex topology. However, the benefits of these technologies can be diminished by the use of suboptimal parameters or inferior materials, leading to defects that significantly degrade the quality and functionality of the resulting products. The formulation of effective preventive strategies remains hampered by an incomplete understanding of defect formation. Given this, our review provides a comprehensive exploration of defects that arise during the Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) — one of the most prevalent 3D printing methods. The defects are systematically classified according to several key characteristics, including size, type, mode of occurrence, and location. Each common defect is discussed in detail, describing its external manifestation, root causes, the impact on the properties of printed parts, and potential preventive measures. Our findings unveil the complex interplay between material properties, printing parameters, and cooling dynamics in the defect formation process. This classification has significant practical relevance, providing a solid basis for the development of strategies to minimize defects and improve the quality of 3D printed products. It provides valuable insights for a wide audience, including researchers investigating chemical processes and additive manufacturing technologies, 3D printing engineers, 3D printer operators, and quality assurance engineers involved in production quality control. In addition, our review points the way forward for future research in this area. There is a crucial need for the development of advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence models that can predict defect formation based on given printing parameters and material properties. Future investigations should also focus on the discovery of novel materials and refining of printing parameters to achieve superior quality of FFF 3D printed products. This is the first review on defect analysis, classification, and prevention methods in 3D printing. This review serves as a cornerstone for these future advances, promoting a deeper understanding of defect formation and prevention in additive manufacturing.

Microbial interactions are one of the major topics of current research due to their great societal relevance. It is now established that biofilms—associations of microorganisms, exchanging various chemical compounds, including proteins and nucleic acids—are capable of promoting horizontal transfer of resistance genes. However, our understanding of the processes occurring in biofilms is rather limited. A possible method to partly overcome this problem is the implementation of highly efficient imaging and mapping of these structures. This work proposes a combination of automated scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a comprehensive software system that uses deep neural networks to perform an in-depth analysis of biofilms. Time-dependent, high-throughput mapping of biofilm electron microscopy images was achieved using deep learning and allowed microscale data analysis of visible to the eye biofilm-covered area ( i.e., at the macroscale). For this study, to the best of our knowledge, the first matrix and cell-annotated biofilm segmentation dataset was prepared. We show that the presented approach can be used to process statistical data investigation of biofilm samples in a volume, where automation is essential (>70 000 separate bacterial cells studied; >1000 times faster than regular manual analysis). To evaluate the approach, multiple time steps of biofilm development were analyzed by first-to-date kinetic modeling of biofilms with SEM, revealing the complex dynamics of biofilm formation. Moreover, it was shown that the described procedure is capable of capturing differences between antibiotics and antimicrobial compounds applied to studied biofilms.

Electron microscopy (EM) is one of the most important methods for characterizing various systems, and it is traditionally applied to static solid structures. Remarkable recent developments have opened multiple possibilities for in situ observation of different phenomena, including liquid phase processes. In contrast to routine solid-state EM measurements with static images, electron microscopy in liquids often deals with ubiquitous dynamics, which can be recorded as video streams. Providing much information about the sample, real-time EM increases the complexity of data analysis, challenging researchers to develop new, highly efficient systems for data processing. The present work proposes a framework for data anal- ysis in real-time electron microscopy. Multiple algorithm choices are compared, and efficient solutions are described. Using the best algorithm, combining classical computer vision methods and deep learning-based denoising, the unique anisotropic effect of the electron beam in microstructured ionic liquid-based systems was discovered. The developed method provides an efficient approach for studying the structure and transformation of soft micro-scale domains in molecular liquids. The corresponding software was made publicly available, and detailed instructions to reapply it to other problems were provided.

Acetylene is a key industrial building block with a reach functionalization chemistry under strong basis (i.e., so called, superbasic) conditions in solution. In spite of significance of such acetylene transformations, mechanistic understanding of liquid-phase processes at molecular level under superbasic conditions remains a challenge. In the present study, a detailed comparative analysis of several factors influencing acetylene in solution was performed using NMR spectroscopy. Solvent effects, deuterium isotope effects, and temperature effects were estimated on experimental JCH spin-spin coupling constants and the chemical shift difference of ΔδC, and their possible outcome on acetylene bond length were assessed. Acetylene was studied under superbasic conditions in DMSO/KOH mixtures, and chemical exchange processes were observed, manifesting themselves as a coalescence of JCH. Possible exchange reactions are validated by quantum chemical calculations. The studied phenomenon may shed light on the mechanism of acetylene activation under superbasic conditions and contribute to understanding functionalization chemistry in the liquid phase.

Biomass-derived C6-furanic compounds have become the cornerstone of sustainable technologies. The key feature of this field of chemistry is the involvement of the natural process only in the first step, i.e., the production of biomass by photosynthesis. Biomass-to-HMF (5-hydroxymethylfurfural) conversion and further transformations are carried out externally with the involvement of processes with poor environmental factors (E-factors) and the generation of chemical wastes. Due to widespread interest, the chemical conversion of biomass to furanic platform chemicals and related transformations are thoroughly studied and well-reviewed in the current literature. In contrast, a novel opportunity is based on an alternative approach to consider the synthesis of C6-furanics inside living cells using natural metabolism, as well as further transformations to a variety of functionalized products. In the present article, we review naturally occurring substances containing C6-furanic cores and focus on the diversity of C6-furanic derivatives, occurrence, properties and synthesis. From the practical point of view, organic synthesis involving natural metabolism is advantageous in terms of sustainability (sunlight-driven as the only energy source) and green nature (no eco-persisted chemical wastes).

During previous stages of research, high biocidal activity toward microorganism archival strains has been used as the main indicator in the development of new antiseptic formulations. Although this factor remains one of the most important characteristics of biocide efficiency, the scale of antimicrobial resistance spread causes serious concern. Therefore, focus shifts toward the development of formulations with a stable effect even in the case of prolonged contact with pathogens. Here, we introduce an original isocyanuric acid alkylation method with the use of available alkyl dichlorides, which opened access to a wide panel of multi-QACs with alkyl chains of various lengths between the nitrogen atoms of triazine and pyridine cycles. We used a complex approach for the resulting series of 17 compounds, including their antibiofilm properties, bacterial tolerance development, and antimicrobial activity toward multiresistant pathogenic strains. As a result of these efforts, available compounds have shown higher levels of antibacterial activity against ESKAPE pathogens than widely used commercial QACs. Hit compounds possessed high activity toward clinical bacterial strains and have also demonstrated a long-term biocidal effect without significant development of microorganism tolerance. The overall results indicated a high level of antibacterial activity and the broad application prospects of multi-QACs based on isocyanuric acid against multiresistant bacterial strains.

Recent developments have underpinned that the creation of a potent catalytic system does not always necessitate the assembly of complex and costly organic ligands with transition metal compounds. Aligned with the principles of dynamic catalysis, a simpler methodology involving the use of regular complexes as catalyst precursors under carefully selected reaction conditions is feasible. The dynamic transformations that these metal compounds undergo can generate a catalyst system with acceptable selectivity and impressive performance characteristics. In our study, we utilized this approach for the hydrosilylation reaction, where we employed a readily available and stable tris(dibenzylideneacetone)diplatinum(0) complex (Pt 2dba3) as a catalyst. Dynamic transformations of Pt2dba3 create a mixture of platinum-bearing compounds within the reaction system, forming a "cocktail"-type catalyst system with performance levels comparable to Karstedt's catalyst (Pt2dvtms3), a popular choice for hydrosilylation reactions. This "cocktail"-type catalyst was examined using a suite of methods, such as decomposition tests, monitoring of platinum nanoparticle formation via electron microscopy, and X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. The gathered data suggest that the reaction system contains both platinum molecular complexes and nanoparticles ranging between 1.6 and 2.6 nm in size. Furthermore, a mechanistic study scrutinizing the selectivity of the alkyne hydrosilylation reaction was conducted using DFT calculations. Molecular dynamics modeling of the key intermediate demonstrated the reversibility of the oxidative addition stage in the catalytic cycle and revealed possible mechanistic pathways for the external-ligand-free catalytic system.

An efficient protocol for the C-N cross-coupling of aryl chlorides with (hetero)aryl- and alkyl amines under nickel catalysis has been developed. The main advantage of the protocol is the use of a self-activated Ni/NHC catalytic system generated in situ from readily available bench-stable air-tolerant precursors: NiCl2Py2, IPrHCl, and sodium tert-butoxide. A mass spectrometry mechanistic study of the reaction system revealed the dynamics of competitive processes of Ni/NHC active species formation and degradation involving NHC reductive elimination reactions and tert-butoxide base. Optimization of the NiCl2Py2/IPrHCl/tBuONa ratio and the reaction temperature allowed efficient catalysis to be achieved. The developed simple protocol represents a simple alternative for methods relying on the use of air-sensitive and unstable Ni(cod)2 or expensive well-defined Ni/NHC precatalysts.

Stable and easily detectable isotopic labels provide advanced opportunities in a wide range of chemical applications. Highly specific information can be retrieved upon analysis of isotopic label movement from one position to another. The incorporation of isotopic labels into organic molecules is in high demand; however, it may often be rather challenging. The introduction of D and 13C labels is of particular interest due to authentic signals in NMR spectra and the reliable identification of isotopic label positions in target molecules. In this work, a convenient methodology for the introduction of D and 13C labels was developed using calcium carbide as a source of D- and 13C-labeled acetylene and phosphine oxides as substrates. As a result, d4- and 13C2-1,2-bis(phosphine oxide)ethanes were isolated in yields and isotopic purities up to 99%. The resulting phosphine oxides were reduced to the corresponding phosphines, which were used as ligands for the preparation of D-labeled Ni and Pd complexes in 80–96% yields with further characterization by NMR spectroscopy, X-ray and HRMS. The incorporation of D and 13C labels using calcium carbide and acetylene is of key importance since atom-economical addition reactions can be involved with intrinsic opportunity for saving valuable isotopic labels.

Calcium carbide is considered a possible key component in the sustainable carbon cycle, including convenient recycling of carbon wastes to industrial uptake. However, currently employed CaC2 manufacturing process produces significant amounts of CO2. One of the main factors of its appearance is the formation of carbon oxide during the reaction. The reaction of lime ore with coal inevitably results in the formation of CO and the loss of one carbon atom. CO is usually burnt, forming CO2 to maintain the required high temperature during synthesis – 2200 °C. In the present study, we discuss that the use of calcium metal instead of lime represents a good opportunity to prevent CO2 emission since the reaction of Ca with carbon occurs in an atom-efficient manner and results in only CaC2 at a much lower temperature of 1100 °C. Here, the reaction of Ca with carbon was successfully tested to synthesize CaC2. The desired product was isolated in gram-scale amounts in 97.2% yield and 99% purity. The environmental friendliness of the proposed method originates from the calculations of the E-factor and much lower reaction temperature. Rationalization is provided concerning the cost factor of Ca within the considered process.

Visible light irradiation of an aqueous solution of sodium alginate and organometallic complex [(C 5H5)Fe(toluene)]BF4 transforms it into a rigid hydrogel due to crosslinking of the carboxylate groups by the iron ions. Irradiation of the same iron complex together with K2S2O8 initiates the polymerization of acrylamide, which provides an efficient method for light-controlled one-step preparation of alginate-polyacrylamide double network hydrogels, which are capable of gluing wet glass with 100–200 kPa shear strength.

The discovery of high-performance thermoplastics for additive technologies has opened new areas of science and industry with the paramount application of fused filament fabrication 3D printing (FFF). Indeed, it is the emergence of new materials that the further development of FFF technology is associated with. Such materials must combine several high performance characteristics. For use in chemical laboratory practice, FFF materials must possess a challenging combination of properties – chemical resistance, heat stability and mechanical strength. In this work, a systematic study of these characteristics was carried out for general purpose plastics (PLA+, TPU and PC+), plastics with high chemical resistance (PP, PP-GF) and plastics with increased chemical and heat resistance based on polyamides (PA, PA6-CF). It is shown that, in terms of the combination of advantageous practical properties, carbon-filled polyamide-6 (PA6-CF) is a superior material for digital design of chemical reactors in laboratory practice. In this work, a new methodology for complex testing of FFF parts has been developed, which provides the possibility to examine simultaneous effects on several external factors. Tests of chemical reactors made of PA6-CF in the catalytic hydrogenation of alkynes showed the high efficiency of this material for the manufacturing of chemical equipment. The test reactions were performed with high conversion both in batch mode and in continuous flow mode at elevated temperature in a short time using a small amount of palladium catalyst.

Nitronyl nitroxides are functional building blocks in cutting-edge research fields, such as the design of molecular magnets, the development of redox and photoswitchable molecular systems and the creation of redox-active components for organic and hybrid batteries. The key importance of the nitronyl nitroxide function is to translate molecular-level-optimized structures into nano-scale devices and new technologies. In spite of great importance, efficient and versatile synthetic approaches to these compounds still represent a challenge. Particularly, methods for the direct introduction of a nitronyl nitroxide moiety into aromatic systems possess many limitations. Here, we report gold derivatives of nitronyl nitroxide that can enter Pd(0)-catalysed cross-coupling reactions with various aryl bromides, affording the corresponding functionalized nitronyl nitroxides. Based on the high thermal stability and enhanced reactivity in catalytic transformation, a new reagent is suggested for the synthesis of radical systems via a universal cross-coupling approach.

Industrial activity results in ton-scale production of calcium carbide and generation of a significant amount of calcium carbide residue (CCR), which is often disposed of in the environment as waste. CCR is an active chemical, and rain washes away alkali from sludge, changing the pH of soils and water and damaging the environment. In this work, we explored new opportunities for the utilization of CCR in view of the coming industrial uptake of digital design and additive technologies. Amazingly, CCR can be successfully used as a filler for the modification of 3D printed materials towards the introduction of hybrid organic/inorganic frameworks. A series of commercially available plastics (PLA, ABS, Nylon, PETG, SBS) were successfully used as matrices for CCR-based composite production with high CCR contents up to 28%. Tensile analyses showed increases in tensile strength and Young's modulus of 9% and 60%, respectively. Moreover, in comparison with the pure plastics, the CCR-based materials better maintained the digitally designed shape (lower shrinkage). Importantly, CCR-filled materials are 3D printable, making them very promising components in the building sector. Considering the amount of already available CCR stored in the environment, this material is available in large quantities in the near future for hybrid materials, and anticipated opportunities exist in the additive manufacturing sector. The involvement of CCR in practical composite materials is equally important for environmental protection and reuse of already available multiple-ton wastes.

Pd/NHC complexes (NHCs – N-heterocyclic carbenes) with electron-withdrawing halogen groups were prepared by developing an optimized synthetic procedure to access imidazolium salts and the corresponding metal complexes. Structural X-ray analysis and computational studies have been carried out to evaluate the effect of halogen and CF3 substituents on the Pd–NHC bond and have provided insight into the possible electronic effects on the molecular structure. The introduction of electron-withdrawing substituents changes the ratio of σ-/π-contributions to the Pd–NHC bond but does not affect the Pd–NHC bond energy. Here, we report the first optimized synthetic approach to access a comprehensive range of o-, m-, and p-XC6H4-substituted NHC ligands, including incorporation into Pd complexes (X = F, Cl, Br, CF3). The catalytic activity of the obtained Pd/NHC complexes was compared in the Mizoroki–Heck reaction. For substitution with halogen atoms, the following relative trend was observed: X = Br > F > Cl, and for all halogen atoms, the catalytic activity changed in the following order: m-X, p-X > o-X. Evaluation of the relative catalytic activity showed a significant increase in the catalyst performance in the case of Br and CF3 substituents compared to the unsubstituted Pd/NHC complex.

Imidazolium salts have received ubiquitous applications as N-heterocyclic carbene precursors and metal nanoparticle stabilizers in catalysis and metallodrug research. Substituents directly attached to the imidazole ring can have a significant influence on the electronic, steric, and other properties of NHC-proligands as well as their metal complexes. In the present study, for the first time, a new type of Pd/NHC complexes with the RSO2 group directly attached to the imidazol-2-ylidene ligand core was designed and synthesized. Electronic properties as well as structural features of new ligands were evaluated by means of experimental and computational methods. Interestingly, the introduction of a 4-aryl(alkyl)sulfonyl group only slightly decreased electron donation, but it significantly increased π-acceptance and slightly enhanced the buried volume (%Vbur) of new imidazol-2-ylidenes. New Pd/NHC complexes were obtained through selective C(2)H-palladation of some of the synthesized 4-RSO2-functionalized imidazolium salts under mild conditions. Several complexes demonstrated good activity in the catalysis of model cross-coupling reactions, outperforming the activity of similar complexes with non-substituted NHC ligands.

Agriculture is the most massive material circulation activity of humans, with significant annual volumes of production as well as substantial amounts of waste. Transforming agricultural wastes into high-value-added products is the key to sustainable development with efficient usage of renewable resources. The present study demonstrates the fine-tuning of the sugar beet pulp processing to access two types of materials for cutting edge applications—supercapacitors and fuel cells. Alkaline fine-tuning results in N,O-doped carbon material (CM) with an advantageous combination of surface area and morphology that allows to achieve high specific capacitance (308 F g ⁻¹), and excellent stability (>10 000 charge/discharge cycles). Not limited to the CM preparation and characterization, a real device is created in the present study to demonstrate the efficient usage of the carbon electrode in the form of the assembled coin cell. Acidic fine-tuning, in contrast, yields a methodology for P,N,O-doped material and optimizes to form active sites with electrocatalytic activity in the oxygen reduction reaction that is used for electricity production in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. The developed approach demonstrates the tuning of functional properties and morphology of CMs under experimentally simple conditions using conventional reagents (KOH and H ₃PO4) and opens up new directions in the circular biomass usage projects.

Preparation of and carrying out chemical reactions often require considerable laboratory space. Miniaturization of chemical equipment and reducing laboratory space requirements are an essential task to improve cost-efficiency, as well as increase safety and decrease potential risks. In this work, we discuss the miniaturization of laboratory equipment through the spatial optimization of functional parts. To demonstrate this, we have optimized the size of one of the most cumbersome processes in the lab, the generation of gases from solid sources. We have developed a ready-to-use acetylene generation cartridge with a high degree of functional filling of the internal space, which significantly compacts its dimensions. The cartridge was sealed upon three-dimensional (3D) printing, prepacked with the reagent, and found suitable for long-term storage. In addition to acetylene generation, built-in water trap channels and a drying compartment made it possible to obtain dried gas on the output of the cartridge. The cartridge showed high efficiency in the reactions for the synthesis of bis(arylthio)-substituted ethenes and butadienes. To expand the range of products based on acetylene, a procedure for the synthesis of 1,2-bis(alkylthio)ethenes was developed. The use of the cartridge allowed us to obtain target Z-ethenes with good yields and stereoselectivity.

Electron microscopy is a key characterization technique for nanoscale systems, and electron microscopy images are typically recorded and analyzed in terms of the morphology of the objects under study in static mode. The emerging current trend is to analyze the dynamic behavior at the nanoscale observed during electron microscopy measurements. In this work, the study of the stability of MOF structures with different compositions and topologies under conditions of an electron microscope experiment revealed an unusual dynamic behavior of M NPs formed due to the electron-beam-induced transformation of specific frameworks. The transition to the liquid phase led to spatial movement, rapid sintering, and an increase in the M NPs size within seconds. In the case of copper nanoparticles, instantaneous sublimation was observed. The dynamic behavior of Co NPs was analyzed with a computational framework combining deep learning and classic computer vision techniques. The present study for the first time revealed unique information about the stability of a variety of MOFs under an electron beam and the dynamic behavior of the formed M NPs. The formation of Fe, Ni, Cu, and Co NPs was observed from a molecular framework with a specific subsequent behavior – a stable form for Fe, excessive dynamics for Co, and sublimation/condensation for Cu. Two important outcomes of the present study should be mentioned: (i) electron microscopy investigations of MOF samples should be made with care, as decomposition under an electron beam may lead to incorrect results and the appearance of "phantom" nanoparticles; and (ii) MOFs represent an excellent model for fundamental studies of molecular-to-nano transitions in situ in video mode, including a number of dynamic transformations.

The investigation of photochemical reaction mechanisms by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is a rapidly growing field. Herein, we point out that the approach is user-friendly and easy to implement. Commonly used ESI-MS research devices are reviewed, and some applications are highlighted to facilitate the discovery of new photochemical transformations.

This concept article reviews application-oriented possibilities in the mechanistic investigation of photochemical reactions by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (Photo-Chem-ESI-MS). A brief review of essential techniques for coupling photochemical reactions with ESI-MS online monitoring is presented. Representative customized advanced tools for "light on/light off" mechanistic studies of photochemical reactions aimed at the detection of specific intermediates are discussed. The design of dedicated Photo-Chem-ESI-MS setups is the focus of modern research and will enable more profound insight into the field.

Water-soluble Pt complexes are the key components in medicinal chemistry and catalysis. The well-known cisplatin family of anticancer drugs and industrial hydrosylilation catalysts are two leading examples. On the molecular level, the activity mechanisms of such complexes mostly involve changes in the Pt coordination sphere. Using 195Pt NMR spectroscopy for operando monitoring would be a valuable tool for uncovering the activity mechanisms; however, reliable approaches for the rapid correlation of Pt complex structure with 195Pt chemical shifts are very challenging and not available for everyday research practice. While NMR shielding is a response property, molecular 3D structure determines NMR spectra, as widely known, which allows us to build up 3D structure to 195Pt chemical shift correlations. Accordingly, we present a new workflow for the determination of lowest-energy configurational/conformational isomers based on the GFN2-xTB semiempirical method and prediction of corresponding chemical shifts with a Machine Learning (ML) model tuned for Pt complexes. The workflow was designed for the prediction of 195Pt chemical shifts of water-soluble Pt(II) and Pt(IV) anionic, neutral, and cationic complexes with halide, NO2−, (di)amino, and (di)carboxylate ligands with chemical shift values ranging from −6293 to 7090 ppm. The model offered an accuracy (normalized root-mean-square deviation / RMSD) of 0.98 % / 131.25 ppm on the held-out test set.

The development of Pd- and Ni-catalyzed reactions for C–C bond formation is one of the primary driving forces in modern organic synthesis and the fine chemical industry. However, understanding the role of conformational mobility in reaction mechanisms is a long-standing challenge. We highlight the effect of a multirotamer (multiconformer) system on the effective Gibbs free energy of activation in the key C–C coupling process and promote the use of a simplified version of multiconformer transition state theory that is straightforward to apply. Multivariate regression helped to quantitatively map the effect of coupled organic substituents (their structural and electronic parameters), as well as to determine the relative activity of metals. We provide computational evidence for solvent control of the equilibrium in RE/C–C-bond activation for some model complexes. We also demonstrate that Ni complexes, being unique in the catalysis of sp3-sp3couplings, can be more challenging for machine learning and computational chemistry. The modeling was performed at an exceptionally high level, DLPNO-CCSD(T)/CBS//RIJCOSX-PBE0-D4/def2-TZVP. The Conclusions section contains an infographic summarizing the key findings related to the fields of cross-coupling catalysis, machine learning in catalysis, and computational chemistry.

Understanding the interface between soluble metal complexes and supported metal particles is important in order to reveal reaction mechanisms in a new generation of highly active homogeneous transition metal catalysts. In this study, we show that, in the case of palladium forming on a carbon (Pd/C) catalyst from a soluble Pd(0) complex Pd2dba3, the nature of deposited particles on a carbon surface turns out to be much richer than previously assumed, even if a very simple experimental procedure is utilized without the use of additional reagents and procedures. In the process of obtaining a heterogeneous Pd/C catalyst, highly active "hidden" metal centers are formed on the carbon surface, which are leached out by the solvent and demonstrate diverse reactivity in the solution phase. The results indicate that heterogeneous catalysts may naturally contain trace amounts of molecular monometallic centers of a different nature by easily transforming them to the homogeneous catalytic system. In line with a modern concept, a heterogenized homogeneous catalyst precursor was found to leach first, leaving metal nanoparticles mostly intact on the surface. In this study, we point out that the previously neglected soft leaching process contributes to high catalyst activity. The results we obtained demand for leaching to be reconsidered as a flexible tool for catalyst construction and for the rational design of highly active and selective homogeneous catalytic systems, starting from easily available heterogeneous catalyst precursors.

The transfer of waste materials from the chemical industry to the building sector is an emerging area of sustainable development. Leftovers, by-products, tails and sludge from chemical processes may be valuable components of building mixtures. Feeding the construction industry by chemical wastes is a profitable chain for both sectors. In fact, calcium carbide residue (CCR) can be considered a link between the chemical industry and construction materials. Carbide sludge is the main waste product of acetylene gas production from calcium carbide. The released acetylene is actively used in the modern chemical industry. An alternative method of acetylene production — the cracking of oil and gas — is beyond sustainability; thus, the carbide route is more promising in the hydrocarbon-free future. However, the carbide route is accompanied by a significant amount of the side-product carbide sludge, which is currently used as a CO ₂ capture agent, binder, building material, in inorganic synthesis, etc. In this review, the potential of carbide sludge in the construction industry and other areas is highlighted.

Exploring the free energy surface of the R–NHC coupling reaction in the key intermediates of the Mizoroki–Heck and cross-coupling catalytic cycles has been conducted by the methods of biased and unbiased molecular dynamics. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out both in vacuum and in a polar solvent, with the following main observations on the influence of the media: (1) the solvent prevents the dissociation of the solvate ligand, so the R–NHC coupling proceeds in a four-coordination complex (rather than in a three-coordination one, as in the case of a gas-phase reaction); (2) in the condensed phase, the potential barrier of the reaction is significantly higher compared to the same process in vacuum (17.7 vs. 21.8 kcal mol-1); (3) polar solvent stabilizes the R–NHC coupling product. The reaction in a polar medium is exergonic (ΔG = −3.9 kcal mol-1), in contrast to the in vacuum modeling, where the process is endergonic (ΔG = 0.4 kcal mol-1).

In the present review, we discuss recent progress in the field of C–Z bond formation reactions (Z = S, Se, Te) catalyzed by transition metals. Two complementary methodologies are considered─catalytic cross-coupling reactions and catalytic addition reactions. The development of advanced catalytic systems is aimed at improved catalyst efficiency, reduced catalyst loading, better cost efficiency, environmental concerns, and higher selectivity and yields. The important rise of research efforts in sustainability and green chemistry areas is critically assessed. The paramount role of mechanistic studies in the development of a new generation of catalytic systems is addressed, and the key achievements, problems, and challenges are summarized for this field.

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a convenient, highly sensitive, and reliable method for the analysis of complex mixtures, which is vital for materials science, life sciences fields such as metabolomics and proteomics, and mechanistic research in chemistry. Although it is one of the most powerful methods for individual compound detection, complete signal assignment in complex mixtures is still a great challenge. The unconstrained formula-generating algorithm, covering the entire spectra and revealing components, is a "dream tool" for researchers. We present the framework for efficient MS data interpretation, describing a novel approach for detailed analysis based on deisotoping performed by gradient-boosted decision trees and a neural network that generates molecular formulas from the fine isotopic structure, approaching the long-standing inverse spectral problem. The methods were successfully tested on three examples: fragment ion analysis in protein sequencing for proteomics, analysis of the natural samples for life sciences, and study of the cross-coupling catalytic system for chemistry.

Homogeneous catalysis is typically considered "well-defined" from the standpoint of catalyst structure unambiguity. In contrast, heterogeneous nanocatalysis often falls into the realm of "poorly defined" systems. Supported catalysts are difficult to characterize due to their heterogeneity, variety of morphologies, and large size at the nanoscale. Furthermore, an assortment of active metal nanoparticles examined on the support are negligible compared to those in the bulk catalyst used. To solve these challenges, we studied individual particles of the supported catalyst. We made a significant step forward to fully characterize individual catalyst particles. Combining a nanomanipulation technique inside a field-emission scanning electron microscope with neural network analysis of selected individual particles unexpectedly revealed important aspects of activity for widespread and commercially important Pd/C catalysts. The proposed approach unleashed an unprecedented turnover number of 10 ⁹ attributed to individual palladium on a nanoglobular carbon particle. Offered in the present study is the Totally Defined Catalysis concept that has tremendous potential for the mechanistic research and development of high-performance catalysts.

The first example of an intermolecular thiol-yne-ene coupling reaction is reported for the one-pot construction of C-S and C-C bonds. This opens a new dimension in building molecular complexity to access densely functionalized products. The progress was achieved by suppressing hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and associative reductant upconversion (via associative electron upconversion C-S three-electron σ-bond formation) using an Eosin Y/DBU/MeOH photocatalytic system. Investigation of the reaction mechanism by combining online ESI-UHRMS, EPR spectroscopy, isotope labeling, determination of quantum yield and computational modeling revealed a unique photoredox cycle with four radical-involving stages. Previously unavailable products of the thiol-yne-ene reaction were obtained in good yields with high selectivity and can serve as stable precursors for the synthesis of synthetically demanding activated 1,3-dienes.

Imidazolium salts have ubiquitous applications in energy research, catalysis, materials and medicinal sciences. Here, we report a new strategy for the synthesis of diverse heteroatom-functionalized imidazolium and imidazolinium salts from easily available 1,4-diaza-1,3-butadienes in one step. The strategy relies on a discovered family of unprecedented nucleophilic addition/cyclization reactions with trialkyl orthoformates and heteroatomic nucleophiles. To probe general areas of application, synthesized N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors were feasible for direct metallation to give functionalized M/carbene complexes (M = Pd, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au), which were isolated in individual form. The utility of chloromethyl function for the postmodification of the synthesized salts and Pd/carbene complexes was demonstrated. The obtained complexes and imidazolium salts demonstrated good activities in Pd- or Ni-catalyzed model cross-coupling and C-H activation reactions.

Key similarities and differences of Pd and Ni in catalytic systems are discussed. Overall, Ni and Pd catalyze a vast number of similar C–C and C–heteroatom bond-forming reactions. However, the smaller atomic radius and lower electronegativity of Ni, as well as the more negative redox potentials of low-valent Ni species, often provide higher reactivity of Ni systems in oxidative addition or insertion reactions and higher persistence of alkyl-Ni intermediates against β-hydrogen elimination, thus enabling activation of more reluctant electrophiles, including alkyl electrophiles. Another key point relates to the higher stability of the open-shell electronic configurations of Ni(I) and Ni(III) compared with Pd(I) and Pd(III). Nickel systems very often involve a number of interconvertible Ni( n+) active species of variable oxidation states (Ni(0), Ni(I), Ni(II), and Ni(III)). In contrast, catalytic reactions involving Pd(I) or Pd(III) active species are still relatively less developed and may require facilitation by special ligands or merging with photo- or electrocatalysis. However, the relatively high redox potentials of Pd(n+) species ensure their facile reduction to Pd(0) species under the assistance of numerous reagents or solvents, providing relatively high concentrations of molecular Pd1(0) complexes that can reversibly aggregate into active Pdn clusters and nanoparticles to form a cocktail of interconvertible Pdn(0) active species of various nuclearities (i.e., various values of "n"). Nickel systems involving Ni(0) complexes often require special strong reductants; they are more sensitive to deactivation by air and other oxidizers and, as consequence, often operate at higher catalyst loadings than palladium systems in the same reactions. The ease of activation and relatively high stability of low-valent active Pd species provide high robustness and versatility for palladium catalysis, whereas a variety of Ni oxidation states enables more diverse and uncommon reactivity, albeit requiring higher efforts in the activation and stabilization of nickel catalytic systems. As a point for discussion, we may note that Pd catalytic systems may easily form a "cocktail of particles" of different nuclearities but similar oxidation states (Pd1, Pdn, Pd NPs), whereas nickel may behave as a "cocktail of species" in different oxidation states but is less variable in stable nuclearities. Undoubtedly, there is stronger demand than ever not only to develop improved efficient catalysts but also to understand the mechanisms of Pd and Ni catalytic systems.

Pd/NHC complexes are widely used as catalysts in hydrogenation reactions. Usually, the operating mode of these systems is referred to as homogeneous. In this work, we demonstrated that mixed homogeneous–heterogeneous catalysis can be realized in the hydrogenation reaction when Pd/NHC complexes were used as precatalysts. Palladium NPs are formed in situ and act as "hidden" nanoscale catalysts. Based on the quantum chemical calculations and experimental XPS results, the presence of surface NHC ligands on metal nanoparticles can be proposed. Herein, we propose a method for the determination of dynamic transformations of Pd/NHC complexes in transfer hydrogenation reactions via 13C labeling and NMR spectroscopy. This approach is based on the introduction of a 13C label in the C2 position of the imidazolium fragment of Pd/NHC, which is unique to the M–NHC bond. It was found using NMR, ESI-MS, and TEM monitoring of the transfer semihydrogenation of diphenylacetylene that Pd/NHC complexes disappear from the reaction mixtures at the early stage of reaction. Palladium atoms pass into a heterogeneous phase, forming NPs with sizes ranging from 1 to 9 nm. The experimental study and calculations performed in the present study revealed the role of the ligands on the surface of metal nanoparticles. Comparative modeling of hydrogenation reactions on ligand-free and NHC-modified Pd clusters showed that modification of the metal surface increased the catalytic activity by reducing the potential barriers of the alkyne syn-addition and reductive elimination stages. Since the presence of an NHC ligand in the catalytic system leads to a change in the rate-limiting stage of the reaction, we proposed a combined reaction mechanism, according to which oxidative addition proceeds on a bare metal surface, and the remaining two stages occur in the modified zone of NPs.

Considering a complete life cycle of metal catalysts, metals are usually mined from ores as salts (MX′ n), industrially processed to the bulk metal (M) and then converted into the salts again (MXn) to be used as catalyst precursors. Under catalytic conditions, metal salts undergo transformations to form catalytically active species (MLn), and the anion (X) is typically converted to waste. Thus, there are extra steps before a catalytic process may start, and the chemical transformation involved therein generates considerable amounts of waste. Here, we study the strategy for merging electrodissolution with catalysis to skip these extra steps and demonstrate efficient waste-minimized transformations to access Cu catalysts from the metal. Bulk metal from an electrode can be transformed directly into a catalytic reaction under the action of electric current. As a representative example, dipolar addition of azides to alkynes was successfully catalyzed by copper metal. The reaction was carried out in an ionic liquid (IL), which acted simultaneously as an electrolyte, a solvent and stabilizer of the formed catalytically active species. The used catalyst can be regenerated (or reactivated, if necessary) by application of reverse polarity of electrodes and directly reused again. For metal and solvent recovery, the ILs used were easily separated from copper species by passing an electric current. The applicability of the copper-catalyzed transformation was additionally tested for cross-coupling of thiols with aryl halides (the Ullmann reaction), click reaction with calcium carbide and three-component azide–halide–alkyne coupling. The mechanism of copper dissolution from an electrode was studied, and the intermediates were identified by means of XRD, X-ray and HRESI-MS.

A simple and efficient strategy for the synthesis of "metal/alloy–on–carbon" catalysts was developed. A highly ordered extra pure graphite-like carbon material as a catalyst support was obtained after calcium carbide decomposition at 700 °C in a stream of gaseous chlorine. When Pd, Pt, Ag, Au, Co, Ni, Fe, Cu salts were added to calcium carbide prior to decomposition, a metal was reduced from a salt by elemental carbon, despite an oxidizing atmosphere. Metal particles were formed on the surface of the layered carbon material, covered with a thin layer of high–purity carbon and partially immersed in it. A catalytically active remaining metal was available for organic molecules due to the porous structure of carbon. At the same time, a metal was firmly held inside the carbon shells and was not washed out during a reaction and after washing procedures, keeping its catalytic activity unchanged for several cycles. Mixing various salts together before the reaction led to the alloys, and the ratio of the salts simply determined the ratio of the metals in the desired alloy. This approach allowed the synthesis of highly active metals/alloys on carbon catalysts with intrinsic hierarchical organization, which ensures a long-life cycle in the reaction. The obtained catalysts were successfully tested in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction and showed excellent stability with a yield change <1% over several cycles (compared with a 64% yield decrease of commercial catalyst). the obtained catalysts have also shown very good performance in the semihydrogenation of c≡c bonds in phenylacetylene and other alkynes with selectivity up to 96% at 99% conversion.

Many practically relevant inorganic solution systems have complex compositions with tens or hundreds of distinct species. Here, we present an approach to analyzing ESI-MS spectra combining a set of scripts for peak assignment and a quantum chemical methodology for the determination of the structure of selected ions. We selected solutions of CuCl, PdCl 2, and the CuCl–PdCl2 mixture as models of popular precatalysts in cross-coupling reactions and the Wacker process that can form "cocktail"-type systems. The spectra exhibited a great number of signals of mono- and bimetallic oligomeric chloride subnanoclusters. Few oligometallic ions had core–shell structures, according to the computations; the structure of most ions was completely unsymmetric, with bridging Cl− ligands supporting the oligomeric structures. Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics showed that some ions were structurally flexible under the selected conditions. Many considered ions exhibited rich configurational and conformational isomerism. The activation (polarization) of the N2 molecule (from the drying gas used during electrospray ionization) by some ions was determined by the analysis of electron density distributions. For the first time, we describe a flexible approach for semiautomatic analysis of highly complex mass-spectra of organometallic systems in solution with the possibility of revealing molecular structures.

Solubility in water, interactions with the solvent medium and tuning of molecular conformation in the liquid phase are the key issues to discover new biologically active molecules and to understand the mechanisms of their action. In the present article, we report synthesis, structural and biological activity studies, and computational modeling of new ionic compounds. Structural frameworks of well-known imidazolium, pyridinium and cholinium ionic liquids (ILs) were combined with naturally occurring cinnamic acid (CA), which is known to possess a wide spectrum of biological activity. Different combinations of these two structural elements (IL and Cin (cinnamic moiety)) allowed modulating the solubility, physicochemical properties and biological activity of the resulting molecules. A significant increase in the biological activity was achieved for the three studied hybrid molecules - [C4mim-Cin][Cl], [C4py–Cin][Cl], and [C4mim-Cin][Cin]. Multiparameter cytotoxicity mapping was performed to visualize the biological activity of the 28 studied molecules. Detailed experimental investigation and molecular dynamics simulation were performed to gain insight into the structure–activity relationship. Of note, a folding conformational change in the structure of [Cnmim-Cin][Cl] hybrid molecules in solution resulted in a substantial change in chemical reactivity, with the activation energy of the hydrolysis reaction decreasing from 32.1 to 23.9 kcal/mol.

NMR spectroscopy was used to study hydrogen-deuterium exchange in CH3, CH2 and CH moieties of ketones dissolved in mixtures of solvents containing exchangeable deuteriums and imidazolium ionic liquids (IL) acting as catalysts. Factors affecting the efficiency of the exchange, as well as the role of the deuterated solvent, temperature and concentration, were investigated. Depending on the sample composition and temperature, the degree of deuteration can reach different values at equilibrium state, and the exchange rate can vary from several minutes to several months. ILs with OAc anions and with ethyl chain cations exhibit significant catalytic properties and high degrees of deuteration (up to 98%), which can be achieved by consecutive deuteration cycles. A convenient practical protocol for monitoring the exchange process by NMR spectroscopy and calculating the degree of deuteration was developed and can be used for various molecular systems.

Protic imidazolium ionic liquids (PILs) have shown great potential as regents and catalysts in liquid-phase chemistry. However, their biological activity/toxicity and solvation properties are rather understudied compared to those of more common aprotic ionic liquids (APILs). In this work, for the first time, we studied the cytotoxicity of nine chemically relevant imidazolium PILs with various alkyl side chains in the cation and compared it with the cytotoxicity of the corresponding aprotic analogues. The experimental data were supported by computational modeling. The results suggested the type of anion to be the major factor governing the cytotoxicity of the studied ILs with short alkyl side chains. Of note, even low-toxic PILs imposed considerable deleterious effects on eukaryotic cells when used as cryopreservation agents. According to a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study, due to the weak amphiphilic properties of imidazolium cations with short alkyl side chains, the studied IL/water mixtures tended to produce simple solid hydrates rather than complex liquid systems with microdomain organization.

Evidence of the involvement of a "cocktail"-type catalytic system in the alkyne and alkene hydrosilylation reaction in the presence of platinum on a carbon support is reported. The nature of the catalytic system was studied by employing a consistently developed experimental procedure. The existence of a "cocktail"-type catalysis pathway was shown for the hydrosilylation reaction catalyzed by platinum on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Pt/MWCNT) and platinum on charcoal (Pt/C), with silane variation. The type of catalyst had a significant influence on the "cocktail"-type system formation. Involvement of a multichannel catalytic system requires critical rethinking of the principles of catalyst design. Another approach should be utilized to achieve high activity, stability and recycling compared to classical heterogeneous catalytic systems.

The syntheses of various chemical compounds require heating. The intrinsic release of heat in exothermic processes is a valuable heat source that is not effectively used in many reactions. In this work, we assessed the released heat during the hydrolysis of an energy-rich compound, calcium carbide, and explored the possibility of its usage. Temperature profiles of carbide hydrolysis were recorded, and it was found that the heat release depended on the cosolvent and water/solvent ratio. Thus, the release of heat can be controlled and adjusted. To monitor the released heat, a special tube-in-tube reactor was assembled using joining part 3D-printed with nylon. The thermal effect of the reaction was estimated using a thermoimaging IR monitor. It was found that the kinetics of heat release are different when using mixtures of water with different solvents, and the maximum achievable temperature depends on the type of solvent and the amount of water and carbide. The possibility of using the heat released during carbide hydrolysis to initiate a chemical reaction was tested using a hydrothiolation reaction—the nucleophilic addition of thiols to acetylene. In a model experiment, the yield of the desired product with the use of heat from carbide hydrolysis was 89%, compared to 30% in this intrinsic heating, which was neglected.

Structure–activity relationships are important for the design of biocides and sanitizers. During the spread of resistant strains of pathogenic microbes, insights into the correlation between structure and activity become especially significant. The most commonly used biocides are nitrogen-containing compounds; the phosphorus-containing ones have been studied to a lesser extent. In the present study, a broad range of sterically hindered quaternary phosphonium salts (QPSs) based on tri- tert-butylphosphine was tested for their activity against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria and fungi (Candida albicans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. gypseum). The cation structure was confirmed to determine their biological activity. A number of QPSs not only exhibit high activity against both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria but also possess antifungal properties. Additionally, the hemolytic and cytotoxic properties of QPSs were determined using blood and a normal liver cell line, respectively. The results show that tri-tert-butyl(n-dodecyl)phosphonium and tri-tert-butyl(n-tridecyl)phosphonium bromides exhibit both low cytotoxicity against normal human cells and high antimicrobial activity against bacteria, including methicillin-resistant strains S. aureus (MRSA). The mechanism of QPS action on microbes is discussed. Due to their high selectivity for pathogens, sterically hindered QPSs could serve as effective tunable biocides.

A general possibility of a sustainable cycle for carbon return to high-value-added products is discussed by turning wastes into acetylene. Pyrolyzed solid municipal wastes, pyrolyzed used cationic exchangers, and other waste carbon sources were studied in view of the design of a sustainable cycle for producing calcium carbide and acetylene. The yields of calcium carbide from carbon wastes were as high as those from industrial fossil raw materials (coke, charcoal, etc.). Conversion of carbon-containing wastes to calcium carbide provides an excellent opportunity to make acetylene, which is directly compatible with modern industry. Overall, the process returns carbon-containing wastes back to sustainable cycles to produce high-value-added products involving only C2 -type molecules (calcium carbide and acetylene). Calcium carbide may be stored and transported, and on-demand acetylene generation is easy to realize. Upon incorporation into the waste processing route, calcium carbide may be an efficient carbon reservoir for quick industrial uptake.

Microorganism-cell-based biohybrid materials have attracted considerable attention over the last several decades. They are applied in a broad spectrum of areas, such as nanotechnologies, environmental biotechnology, biomedicine, synthetic chemistry, and bioelectronics. Sol-gel technology allows us to obtain a wide range of high-purity materials from nanopowders to thin-film coatings with high efficiency and low cost, which makes it one of the preferred techniques for creating organic-inorganic matrices for biocomponent immobilization. This review focuses on the synthesis and application of hybrid sol-gel materials obtained by encapsulation of microorganism cells in an inorganic matrix based on silicon, aluminum, and transition metals. The type of immobilized cells, precursors used, types of nanomaterials obtained, and their practical applications were analyzed in detail. In addition, techniques for increasing the microorganism effective time of functioning and the possibility of using sol-gel hybrid materials in catalysis are discussed.

Automated computational analysis of nanoparticles is the key approach urgently required to achieve further progress in catalysis, the development of new nanoscale materials, and applications. Analysis of nanoscale objects on the surface relies heavily on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as the experimental analytic method, allowing direct observation of nanoscale structures and morphology. One of the important examples of such objects is palladium on carbon catalysts, allowing access to various chemical reactions in laboratories and industry. SEM images of Pd/C catalysts show a large number of nanoparticles that are usually analyzed manually. Manual analysis of a statistically significant number of nanoparticles is a tedious and highly time-consuming task that is impossible to perform in a reasonable amount of time for practically needed large amounts of samples. This work provides a comprehensive comparison of various computer vision methods for the detection of metal nanoparticles. In addition, multiple new types of data representations were developed, and their applicability in practice was assessed.

An efficient method for the C(2)-H arylation of (benz)imidazoles and (benz)oxazoles with aryl chlorides and aryl bromides under Ni/NHC catalysis has been developed. The main benefit of the method is the in situ generation of active Ni/NHC complexes from the air-tolerant bench-stable precursors NiCl2Py2, IMesHCl, and potassium tert-butoxide, which plays a dual role as base and Ni(II) to Ni(0) reductant. The approach represents a userfriendly alternative for procedures relying on the use of toxic phosphine ligands or unstable air-sensitive Ni(cod)2. The concept highlighted in the present study shows that mapping a competitive picture of catalyst dynamics and revealing the competitive processes towards the destruction and stabilization of catalytically active species enables a highly efficient catalytic system to be built under simple conditions.

Additive manufacturing demonstrates tremendous progress and is expected to play an important role in the creation of construction materials and final products. Contactless (remote) mechanical testing of the materials and 3D printed parts is a critical limitation since the amount of collected data and corresponding structure/strength correlations need to be acquired. In this work, an efficient approach for coupling mechanical tests with thermographic analysis is described. Experiments were performed to find relationships between mechanical and thermographic data. Mechanical tests of 3D-printed samples were carried out on a universal testing machine, and the fixation of thermal changes during testing was performed with a thermal imaging camera. As a proof of concept for the use of machine learning as a method for data analysis, a neural network for fracture prediction was constructed. Analysis of the measured data led to the development of thermographic markers to enhance the thermal properties of the materials. A combination of artificial intelligence with contactless nondestructive thermal analysis opens new opportunities for the remote supervision of materials and constructions.

The interaction between diphenylacetylene and dichlorophenylphosphine under various conditions is a simple method for the preparation of pentaphenylphosphole derivatives exhibiting fluorescence properties. Depending on the electronic state of the various centers of the phospholic structure, it was possible to obtain molecules with fluorescence, as in the blue area for 1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenyl-2,5-dihydro-phosphole-1-oxide (H 2PPPO), in the yellow area for 1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenylphosphole-1-oxide (PPPO) and in the cyan area for 1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenylphosphole (PPP). The effect of the structure and π-conjugation on the optical properties of these compounds was studied using PPP derivatives as examples. Unusual changes in the optical properties of PPP derivatives in solution and in the crystalline state are explained. In the case of agglomeration of PPPO and PPP molecules, the effect of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) was observed to have weak fluorescence in solution and strong fluorescence in the aggregated state. However, for H2PPPO, the AIE effect remains mild. With the help of experimental studies, supported by theoretical calculations, the main mechanism of the optical properties of pentaphenylphosphole derivatives has been revealed. It was observed that the intramolecular motions of PPPO and PPP are more limited in the solid state than the motions of H2PPPO, which is associated with less conjugation of the phenyl rotors of H2PPPO. The analysis of the structure and distribution of electron density showed why hydrogenation of the phosphole ring leads to a sharp change in the optical properties of pentaphenylphosphole derivatives, while the oxidation of phosphorus does not lead to the disappearance of the AIE effect and to a lesser extent affects the change in the fluorescence wavelength. Thus, it was shown how the regulation of various structural features of the phospholic ring helps to control the optical properties of such compounds.

An atom-economic ring construction approach to the synthesis of α-(hetero)arylfurans based on renewable furanic platform chemicals has been developed. Corresponding compounds have been prepared in good to excellent yields via [2+2+2] and [4+2] cycloaddition reactions using metal-catalyzed or photoredox protocols. Easily available HMF-based 2-hydroxymethyl-5-ethynylfuran and 2-hydroxymethyl-5-cyanofuran were used as starting materials. A synthetic route with an improved carbon economy factor has been implemented to achieve sustainability aim. The possible application of arylfurans as molecular conductors has been investigated by DFT calculations, which revealed excellent charge transfer properties. As a future perspective, integration of biomass processing strategy into manufacturing of molecular electronics was pointed out to achieve the aim of sustainability.

The key problem of the instability of fluorine-containing diazadienes was addressed to perform the efficient synthesis of imidazolium salts containing fluorine substituents in the aryl groups. The subsequent reaction of fluorine-containing imidazolium compounds (NHC F) with palladium salts under simple conditions afforded new Pd/NHCF complexes. Computational and structural studies were performed to assess the effect of fluorine on the Pd–NHC bond and gave insight into the electronic effects in the molecule. The introduction of fluorine substituents into the aryl rings of the NHC ligands leads to a slight decrease in their σ-donor properties. At the same time, there is a slight increase in the π-acceptor capacity of NHCF. These two effects compensate for each other, so that the Pd–NHC bonding energy remains virtually unchanged. Another observed effect is associated with a slight weakening of the trans influence of the NHCF ligands, which is expressed in the strengthening of the Pd–Solv bond in (NHC)Pd(Solv) complexes. For the first time, a series of novel Pd/NHCF complexes were synthesized via a straightforward approach from fluorine-containing anilines.

Visible light photocatalysis is a rapidly developing branch of chemical synthesis with outstanding sustainable potential and improved reaction design. However, the challenge is that many particular chemical reactions may require dedicated tuned photoreactors to achieve maximal efficiency. This is a critical stumbling block unless the possibility for reactor design becomes available directly in the laboratories. In this work, customized laboratory photoreactors were developed with temperature stabilization and the ability to adapt different LED light sources of various wavelengths. We explore two important concepts for the design of photoreactors: reactors for performing multiple parallel experiments and reactors suitable for scale-up synthesis, allowing a rapid increase in the product amount. Reactors of the first type were efficiently made of metal using metal laser sintering, and reactors of the second type were successfully manufactured from plastic using fused filament fabrication. Practical evaluation has shown good accuracy of the temperature stabilization in the range typically required for organic synthesis for both types of reactors. Synthetic application of 3D printed reactors has shown good utility in test reactions—furan C–H arylation and thiol-yne coupling. The critical effect of temperature stabilization was established for the furan arylation reaction: heating of the reaction mixture may lead to the total vanishing of photochemical effect.

Complexes of palladium and nickel with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (M/NHC, M = Pd, Ni) are widely used as effective catalysts for various amination reactions. A previously unaddressed transformation of M/NHC complexes under typical conditions of the Buchwald–Hartwig amination is disclosed. MII/NHC complexes react with primary aromatic and aliphatic amines in the presence of strong bases to give azol-2(5)-imines and M(0) species via a reductive elimination of NHC and azanide (N-deprotonated amine) ligands. Depending on the structures of the NHC and azanide, the N–NHC coupling can make a significant contribution to the M/NHC catalyst decomposition in the Buchwald–Hartwig and other amination reactions conducted in the presence of strong bases. The discovery of the N–NHC coupling reaction has been shown to be critically influenced by the steric bulkiness of N-substituents on the NHC ligand. The high steric bulkiness of the NHC is an important factor in suppressing the N–NHC coupling deactivation pathway.

Acetylene and ethylene are the smallest molecules that contain an unsaturated carbon-carbon bond and can be efficiently utilized in a large variety of cycloaddition reactions. In the present review, we summarize the application of these C2 molecular units in cycloaddition chemistry and highlight their amazing synthetic opportunities.

Transition metals are essential for most catalytic systems in fine organic synthesis. The usage of transition metals has traditionally raised concerns about their toxicity and potential environmental pollution problems. In this context, the issue of preference for supported catalysts, which can be easily removed from the reaction mixture, over metal complex catalysts is of significant relevance. In this work, we used bio-Profiles and bio-Factors of chemical reactions to assess the impact of catalyst type on the toxicity of a reaction system in the practically important Suzuki-Miyaura reaction. The supported catalysts had noticeably lower cytotoxicity than soluble metal complex catalysts. However, the combined effect of supported catalysts on the environment can depend on their preparation procedure and may have a noticeable "neglected" biological impact. Both types of catalysts made no significant contribution to the "overall toxicity" of the systems studied, while common and typically ignored byproducts demonstrated significantly higher "overall" biological influence. In the present study, we describe how to use bio-Profiles in order to visualize and analyze the biological properties of different types of catalytic reactions.

Investigation of catalytic reactions using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a crucial task, which is often challenging to perform due to rather complex transformations at the metal center. In this work, it was shown that electrophoretic NMR can be a suitable method for studying catalytic reactions and for observing the changes in the catalyst nature. As an important example involving palladium catalysts with N-heterocyclic carbine ligands (NHCs), the breakage of the Pd-NHC bond can occur during the catalytic process. Electrophoretic NMR allows the distinction of compounds in the spectra depending on the charge, thus bringing new opportunities to mechanistic studies. Here, we present independent evidence of R-NHC product formation in the Pd-catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck reaction—the key process for catalyst change from the molecular to nano-scale type.

Methods for the direct one-step replacement of a hydrogen atom in a C–H bond by an organic functional group can create enormous possibilities for synthetic applications. On the way to solve this challenge, the discovery of the reaction of organopalladium complexes with olefins opened a new era in catalysis and organic chemistry.

The development of approaches for creation of adaptive and stimuli-responsive chemical systems is particularly important for chemistry, materials science, and biotechnology. The understanding of response mechanisms for various external forces is highly demanded for the rational design of task-specific systems. Here, we report direct liquid-phase scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of the high frequency sound-wave-driven restructuring of liquid media on the microlevel, leading to switching of its chemical behavior. We show that under the action of ultrasound, the microstructured ionic liquid/water mixture undergoes rearrangement resulting in formation of separated phases with specific compositions and reactivities. The observed effect was successfully utilized for creation of dissipative soft microreactors formed in ionic liquid/water media during the sonication-driven water transfer. The performance of the microreactors was demonstrated using the example of controlled synthesis of small and uniform gold and palladium nanoparticles. The microsonication stage, designed and used in the present study, opened unique opportunities for direct sonochemical studies with the use of electron microscopy.

Comprehensive studies dedicated to the search for specific properties of matter at the micro- and nanoscales have greatly enriched the fields of chemistry and materials science. From the point of view of synthetic chemistry, discoveries in the field of nanoscale catalysis, in which the size effects of active centers are used to accelerate the reactions, are of particular importance. However, another approach for the promotion of chemical transformations based on the micro- or nanoconfinement of reacting molecules or even on the structuring of the reaction media as a whole is gaining interest as a highly valuable tool. Herein, we highlight the example of an increase in the efficiency of phenol alkylation and tert-butylation of benzyl alcohol in reaction media based on ionic liquids by the creation of acidic microdomains in the presence of small molecule additives.

The development of metal nanoparticle chemistry in ionic liquids (ILs) media has had a paramount impact on various fields, including catalysis, energy research, nanotechnology and materials science, among many other directions. This review highlights various methods for producing metal nanoparticles in ILs, with particular focus on palladium, platinum, ruthenium, copper, nickel, cobalt, gold, silver, iron and alloys. The scope of methods includes chemical syntheses as well as electrochemical and physical approaches. Due to strong practical demand, a particular emphasis is placed on the catalytic activity of the obtained nanoparticles in a variety of reactions.

Actual palladium catalysts in synthetic transformations in reaction mixtures are usually represented by dynamic catalytic systems that contain various interconvertible forms of metal particles, including molecular complexes, metal clusters, and nanoparticles. The low thermodynamic stability of Pd nanoparticles can lead to their aggregation and, as a consequence, to the deactivation of the catalytic systems. Therefore, stabilization of nanosized Pd particles is of key importance to ensure efficient catalysis. This review discusses the main pathways for the formation of Pd nanoparticles and clusters from various precatalysts in catalytic systems, as well as current views on the mechanisms of stabilization of these nanosized Pd particles using various types of ionic nitrogen compounds, such as ammonium, amidinium, azolium, and pyridinium salts. The use of ionic nitrogen compounds as specially added or in situ formed stabilizers, ligands, catalytic promoters, heterogenized catalysts (supported ionic liquid phase, SILP) and reaction media (ionic liquids) is exemplified by several important catalytic reactions. The main effects of ionic nitrogen compounds on catalytic processes are also discussed, including possible involvement in catalytic cycles and unwanted side reactions.

Operations with nucleic acids are among the main means of studying the mechanisms of gene function and developing novel methods of molecular medicine and gene therapy. These endeavours usually imply the necessity of nucleic acid storage and delivery into eukaryotic cells. In spite of diversity of the existing dedicated techniques, all of them have their limitations. Thus, a recent notion of using ionic liquids in manipulations of nucleic acids has been attracting significant attention lately. Due to their unique physicochemical properties, in particular, their micro-structuring impact and tunability, ionic liquids are currently applied as solvents and stabilizing media in chemical synthesis, electrochemistry, biotechnology, and other areas. Here, we review the current knowledge on interactions between nucleic acids and ionic liquids and discuss potential advantages of applying the latter in delivery of the former into eukaryotic cells.

Real‐time field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) measurements and neural network analysis were successfully merged to observe the temperature‐induced behavior of soft liquid microdomains in mixtures of different ionic liquids with water. The combination of liquid FE‐SEM and in situ heating techniques revealed temperature‐driven solution restructuring for ions/water systems with different water states and their critical point behavior expressed in a rapid switch between thermal expansion and shrinkage of liquid microphases at temperatures of ≈100–130 °C, which was directly recorded on electron microscopy videos. Automation of FE‐SEM video analysis by a neural network approach allowed quantification of the morphological changes in ions/water systems during heating on the basis of thousands of images processed with a speed almost equal to the frame rate of original electron microscopy videos. Tracking and evolution of the micro‐heterogeneous domains, hypothesized in the Ioliomics concept, was mapped and quantified for the first time. The present study describes the concept for quick acquisition of big data in electron microscopy, develops rapid neural network analysis and shows how to link microscopic data to fundamental molecular properties.

An in-depth study of chemical processes at plastic-metal interfaces led to the development of a novel approach to the creation of lab-on-a-chip microflow reactors. The developed method combines 3D printing of the reactor core by fused deposition modeling using conventional plastic material (ABS), followed by chemical (electroless copper) and galvanic plating (nickel) of the resulting piece (in overall, 3D+G printing process). Detailed analysis of the pieces along all 3D+G stages by electron microscopy revealed step-by-step processes on the plastic-metal interface, which finally allowed innovative reactor design. Despite being made from low-cost materials in a simple procedure, flow reactors are characterized by chemical resistance, versatile geometry, modular design and excellent operating performance. Complete reactor assembly was formulated and successfully tested in a variety of chemical processes targeted on biologically active molecules, including homogeneous, heterogeneous and photochemical reactions. Reactor modules can be combined into cascades to perform sequential reactions. Metallized reactors can be used multiple times in a variety of chemical processes.

Smoothness/defectiveness of the carbon material surface is a key issue for many applications, spanning from electronics to reinforced materials, adsorbents and catalysis. Several surface defects cannot be observed with conventional analytic techniques, thus requiring the development of a new imaging approach. Here, we evaluate a convenient method for mapping such "hidden" defects on the surface of carbon materials using 1–5 nm metal nanoparticles as markers. A direct relationship between the presence of defects and the ordering of nanoparticles was studied experimentally and modeled using quantum chemistry calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. An automated pipeline for analyzing microscopic images is described: the degree of smoothness of experimental images was determined by a classification neural network, and then the images were searched for specific types of defects using a segmentation neural network. An informative set of features was generated from both networks: high-dimensional embeddings of image patches and statics of defect distribution.

In this work, we present a powerful approach for fast assessment of the potential biological impact of chemical processes on living organisms. This approach includes building bio-Profiles based on cytotoxicity data and calculating bio-Factors for chemical reactions. Bio-Profiles allow visual determination of substances with the highest and the lowest contributions to the "overall cytotoxicity" of a given chemical process, whereas bio-Factors indicate the quantitative change in the "overall cytotoxicity" during the process. This information provides the necessary initial description of the plausible biological impact of a given chemical reaction and can be used for subsequent optimization of the process from the viewpoint of toxicity of its components. To illustrate the proposed concept, measurements of biological activity were carried out for ca. thirty compounds in two cell lines and bio-Profiles were constructed for four practically relevant catalytic reactions (Suzuki cross-coupling, oxidative C–C coupling, the Friedel–Crafts reaction, and the Heck reaction). In addition, practical application of bio-Profiles was illustrated by the example of the Suzuki reaction and it showed the largest influence of aryl halides (X = Cl, Br, I), a modest influence of solvents and a small contribution of the catalyst to the overall toxicity profile.

Biomass is a renewable source of valuable feedstock for the chemical industry of the future. A promising approach to the utilization of valuable components of biomass is the synthesis of monomers and polymers, if the overall technology is designed for a clean cycle without pollution of the environment with newly created polymers. In this work, we have developed a methodology for the recycling of polymers based on biomass and calcium carbide. First, we modified a series of biomass-derived terpene alcohols with calcium carbide followed by polymerization of the isolated vinyl ethers. Then, to study the recycling potential, the obtained polymers were subjected to pyrolysis at moderate temperatures (200–450 °C). The pyrolysis products were analyzed using TGA-MS, GC-MS, and NMR, and it was found that the polymers can be transformed quite easily. The products of the pyrolysis consisted of the starting terpenols, as well as the corresponding non-toxic ketones or aldehydes: up to 87% of the starting alcohol or up to 100% of the total sum of alcohol + aldehyde or alcohol + ketone (GC-yields). Then, the reaction mixture was hydrogenated and resulted in the formation of starting alcohol only. According to the studied pathway of polymers re-building, a terpene fragment attached to the main polyethylene chain through an oxygen atom promotes the transformation of the obtained polymers. Thus, the products of pyrolysis are environmentally friendly and can be reused in the further synthesis of monomers. The developed system has shown a unique assembling/disassembling ability and advances the concept of reusable bio-derived high value-added materials.

Device-level applications of organic electrolytes unavoidably imply extensive contacts with the environment. Despite their excellent scientific potential, ionic liquids (ILs) cannot be approved for practical usage until their life cycle and impact on the environment are assessed. In this work, we carried out the first large-scale study on the mechanisms of the cytotoxic action of various classes of ionic liquids, including imidazolium, pyridinium, pyrrolidinium, ammonium, and cholinium ILs (25 in total). We determined the biological effect of these ILs in seven cell lines of various origins (HEK293 (human embryonic kidney), U937 (human myeloid leukemia), Jurkat (human T-cell leukemia), HL60 (human acute promyelocytic leukemia), K562 (human chronic myelogenous leukemia), A549 (human alveolar adenocarcinoma), A2780 (human ovarian carcinoma)). The induction of apoptosis in cells upon treatment with the majority of the ILs tested was subsequently demonstrated. The new data suggest that ILs trigger the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis due to the dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytoplasm. The obtained results corroborate the earlier reported data on the cytotoxic effects of ILs, providing new insight into the detailed mechanisms of IL cytotoxicity. In addition, the first illustrative guide to be employed for designing ILs with targeted biological activity is compiled. As a possible link between the electrochemical behavior of ILs and their biological activity, the relation between IL cytotoxicity and the electrophoretic mobility of IL cations is assessed.

The reaction space of the furanics-to-aromatics (F2A) conversion process for HMF-based platform chemicals has been explored both experimentally and by quantum chemistry methods. For the first time, a structure-activity relationship was established in furan-yne cycloaddition for a number of different HMF derivatives. Correlations between the activation energy of the cycloaddition stage and the structure of the substrates were established by molecular modeling methods. Analysis of the concerted and stepwise mechanisms of cycloaddition in the singlet and triplet electronic states of the molecular system was carried out. A series of biobased 7-oxanorbornadienes was obtained in the reaction with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxilate. Various methods of aromatization of the obtained [4+2] adducts have been examined. Rearrangement catalyzed by a Lewis acid leads to the formation of a phenol derivative, while reduction by diironnonacarbonyl leads to the formation of functionalized benzene. Systematic study of the cycloaddition process has revealed a simple way to analyze and predict the relative reactivity of furanic substrates.

C‐H functionalization is one of the most convenient and powerful tools in the arsenal of modern chemistry, deservedly nominated as the "Holy Grail" of organic synthesis. A frequent disadvantage of this method is the need for harsh reaction conditions to carry out transformations of inert C‐H bonds, which limits the possibility of its use for modifying less stable substrates. Biomass‐derived furan platform chemicals, which have a relatively unstable aromatic furan core and highly reactive side chain substituents, are extremely promising and valuable organic molecules that are currently widely used in a variety of research and industrial fields. The high sensitivity of furan derivatives to acids, strong oxidants, and high temperatures significantly limits the use of classical methods of C‐H functionalization for their modification. New methods of catalytic functionalization of non‐reactive furan cores are urgently required to obtain a new generation of materials with controlled properties and potentially bioactive substances.

A new family of protic ammonium ionic liquids (ILs) with various inorganic anions was synthesized from bio-derived 5-HMF. Starting with cellulose biomass, a complete preservation of the C6 unit was achieved throughout the synthetic sequence (no carbon loss). Evaluation of green metrics showed a significant advantage of the developed bio-derived pathway to access ILs from a natural renewable source, depending on feasible routes to 5-HMF manufacturing. The reduced number of synthetic steps and availability of the starting materials were the key advantages. Experimental physicochemical and biological studies, as well as computational modeling revealed a unique multifunctional intrinsic organization of these bio-derived ILs. The nature of interactions between the cations and anions of the novel ILs was mapped at the molecular level. The substituents in the cationic core and the nature of the original building blocks had a prominent impact on cytotoxicity of the novel ILs. The obtained results suggest possible sustainable applications of the least toxic ILs, while the regulation of biological activity of the ILs via the corresponding structural adjustments can find biological and medicinal applications. The 5-HMF-derived IL with a sulfate anion demonstrated potentially useful properties in dissolution of microcrystalline cellulose.

Rapid development in the area of cellulose biomass conversion to furanic platform chemicals has led to expectations of their valuable practical use. Impressive research progress in this direction has resulted in several achievements but at the same time identified a key challenge—the necessity to produce aromatic compounds. In this perspective, we analyze the current stage of development of the furanics-to-benzene conversion process (F2B process) in connection with a bioderived route to aromatic compounds. Cycloaddition reactions between bioderived C ₆-furans as diene components and alkene/alkyne units are discussed in detail, followed by considering the subsequent aromatization reaction. Progress in the development of the F2B process and future challenges are outlined in this perspective. The key role of the F2B process in the overall biomass to aromatics transformation is discussed in view of the implementation of carbon neutral sustainable technologies in practice.

Complexes of Pd(II) with NHC ligands can suffer facile decomposition in the presence of alkali metal hydroxides, alkoxydes and other strong oxygen-containing bases via the reductive elimination of the NHC and Pd-coordinated base anion, the so-called O–NHC coupling. O–NHC coupling can represent a serious problem for the stability of Pd/NHC catalytic systems in numerous practically important reactions conducted in the presence of bases. In the present study, a new approach to stabilizing the Pd–NHC bond against cleavage by strong bases was developed. The approach relies on the installation of an NH–acidic RNH substituent at position 3 of the triazole ring of the 1,2,4-triazol-5-ylidene ligand. A series of new Pd/NHCs containing RNH substituents (R = Ac, Ph, alkyl) in triazole NHC ligands were synthesized. These complexes undergo reversible deprotonation of the RNH group in strong alkaline media and demonstrate superior stability of the Pd–NHC bond, significantly higher than complexes of similar structure without the RNH group. DFT calculations revealed that the anionic Pd/NHC complex containing an N-deprotonated acetamido group (R = Ac) is more kinetically stable against O–NHC coupling and less prone to lose NHC via heterolytic dissociation of the Pd–NHC bond than the neutral complex. The new complexes with RNH-functionalized NHC ligands were tested as precatalysts in the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling of p-tolyl bromide with phenylboronic acid in the presence of KOH and revealed more than 2 times higher TONs than similar complexes without the RNH group or ligandless Pd system.

Recently, the dynamic nature of the metal-NHC bond has been proposed and the key role of chemical evolution in changing the nature of catalytically active sites is now an emerging topic. A comparative analysis of the ketone α-arylation reaction with aryl halides, catalyzed by M/NHC complexes, was carried out in the present study and showed a fundamental difference in the behavior of the catalytic system for M = Ni and Pd. In situ evolution of Ni/NHC complexes with cleavage of the Ni-NHC bond leads to complete deactivation of catalytic systems, regardless of the nature of the aryl halide ArX (X = Cl, Br, I). However, upon Pd/NHC catalysis, the cleavage of the Pd-NHC bond causes deactivation only in the case of aryl chlorides. In the reactions of more active aryl iodides and aryl bromides, NHC-disconnected Pd species, formed as a result of the chemical transformation of Pd/NHC complexes, can provide effective catalysis in the arylation reaction under study. New catalytic systems based on Pd/NHC and Ni/NHC complexes generated in situ from stable imidazolium salts, IPrHCl and IPr^*OMeHCl, and Pd(OAc)2 (0.1 mol%) or NiCl2Py2 (5 mol%) were developed for the selective α-arylation of methylaryl ketones (Pd-catalysis) and other ketones less prone to aldol-crotonic condensation (Ni-catalysis). The present study has shown that the different effects of the metal-NHC bond cleavage should be taken into account for the efficient choice and optimization of catalytic systems to carry out arylation reaction with various aryl halides.

Although practical catalytic transformations involving aryl chlorides are difficult to implement, they are highly desirable since the starting compounds are inexpensive and readily available. Retarded oxidative addition of aryl chlorides to palladium catalyst as compared to aryl bromides and aryl iodides is typically taken for granted as an explanation for the overall inefficiency of the process. The comparative experimental study and analysis reported herein suggest that oxidative addition cannot be considered the sole reason of the observed low reactivity of aryl chlorides. Other factors were found to play an important role in influencing the reactivity of aryl halides. The present findings suggest that a substantial revision of catalyst design principles is necessary for successful transformations of aryl chlorides.

The mechanism of the C–N cross-coupling reaction, catalyzed by palladium complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (Pd/NHC), was evaluated in detail at the molecular and nanoscale levels. For the first time, the formation of a "cocktail"-type catalytic system was proven for the Buchwald–Hartwig reaction. The unique ability of the Pd/NHC system to generate several types of catalytic centers (Pd complexes, clusters and nanoparticles) and the involvement of complementary pathways (homogeneous and heterogeneous) were discovered to take place in a "one pot" manner directly in the reaction vessel. Access to various catalytic centers from a single and readily available Pd/NHC complex is the key to designing a universal catalytic system with adaptive tuning capability.

In this article, we suggest a new organocatalytic approach based on the dynamic covalent interaction of imidazolium cations with ketones. A reaction of N‐alkyl imidazolium salts with acetone‐d₆ in the presence of oxygenated bases generates a dynamic organocatalytic system with a mixture of protonated carbene/ketone adducts acting as H/D exchange catalysts. The developed methodology of the pH‐dependent deuteration showed high selectivity of labeling and good chiral functional group tolerance. Here we report a unique methodology for efficient metal‐free deuteration, which enables labeling of various types of α‐acidic compounds without trace metal contamination.

An introduction to the concept of a "cocktail" of catalysts is provided together with a brief description of experimental methods and approaches to study "cocktail"-type catalytic systems. The evolution of catalytically active centers and dynamic phenomena in heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis are summarized. The key role of processes such as leaching, ligand transformations, aggregation and redeposition is highlighted. Two principal pathways to afford "cocktail"-type catalytic systems (bottom-up and top-down) are discussed in view of the participation of metal complexes, clusters and nanoparticles in catalysis.

C–H functionalization in the area of fine organic synthesis is dominated by noble metal catalysts, which represent the most expensive and least sustainable options. Sustainable C–H functionalization may involve Ni catalysts. However, Ni(0) complexes are unstable under regular conditions and are more difficult to obtain as compared to Pd(0) or Rh( I). In the present study, a facile method for Ni0/NHC-catalyzed C–H alkylation and alkenylation of heteroarenes with alkenes and internal alkynes is presented. This method relies on the in situ generation of Ni0/NHC complexes from air-tolerant bench-stable precursors, Ni(Cp)2, NHCHCl salts and sodium formate. The optimized catalytic system demonstrates broad substrate scope and high selectivity (>60 products were obtained in up to 99% isolated yield). The approach represents a user-friendly alternative for air-sensitive and labile (NHC)Ni0 and Ni(COD)2 precatalysts or complexes. The intermediates involved in the catalytic system were investigated and possible decomposition routes were mapped with NMR and ESI-MS. Rational control over the catalyst decomposition pathways further strengthens the sustainability of the procedure.

An NMR spectroscopy study of ionic liquid/drug systems at a molecular level and a scanning electron microscopy study in the liquid phase at a nano-scale level were applied for the first time to study ionic preparations of well-known anticancer drugs. Cytotoxicity of binary mixtures of imidazolium ionic liquids with doxorubicin or mitoxantrone was studied in human colorectal adenocarcinoma CaCo-2 cells, and the evidence of synergism/antagonism was assessed. Of the ten drug-containing mixtures tested, four demonstrated significant synergistic or antagonistic cytotoxic effects. These mixtures revealed distinct micro-structured patterns, as shown by scanning electron microscopy, whereas nuclear magnetic resonance evidenced the formation of strong interactions between the drug and the ionic liquid in some of the mixtures. Notably, all the test substances induced the cell death via necrosis in the CaCo-2 cell line, thus revealing the dependence of the observed cytotoxic effects on the cell type. The observed synergistic effects suggested possible benefits of applying ionic liquids in drug formulations.

Development of sustainable bio‐based materials for removal of toxic contaminants from water is a high priority goal. Novel bio‐based binary and ternary copolymers with enhanced ion‐exchange, adsorption and antibacterial properties were obtained using plant biomass‐derived diallyl esters of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) as crosslinking agents and easily available vinyl monomers. The synthesized copolymer materials showed higher sorption capacities for Ni(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) compared to the commercial ion‐exchange resins and maintained their high metal adsorption capacities for over 10 cycles of regeneration. The synthesized copolymer gels containing 1–5 wt% of the crosslinker showed excellent water absorption capacities. The synthesized copolymers with 1% crosslinker content showed swelling ratios high enough to also act as moisture absorbents. The synthesized copolymers with crosslinker content of 10 wt% performed as contact‐active antibacterials by inhibiting the growth of Gram‐positive ( S. aureus) and Gram‐negative bacteria (E. coli, K. pneumonia) in suspension tests.

The reusability of metal catalysts is a key issue for the potential application of new catalysts in research and industrial practice. The most common procedure for testing catalyst reusability in liquid-phase heterogeneous reactions is based on separating a catalyst from a reaction mixture followed by the next run. An alternative procedure called "fresh start" consists of the addition of a new portion of reagents to the reaction mixture without any isolation operation. In this work, we compare both procedures in a model Pd/C-catalyzed hydrogenation with different heteroatoms, e.g., O-, S-, and N-vinyl derivatives. It was shown that regardless of whether the catalyst is stable or potentially poisoned during the reaction, both procedures lead to comparable results. It appears that a much easier implementation of a fresh start procedure may be an option of choice. The possibilities of using both procedures to rationalize the experimental protocol for assessing Pd/C catalyst reusability in liquid-phase hydrogenations are discussed.

The Mizoroki–Heck reaction is one of the most known and best studied catalytic transformations and has provided an outstanding driving force for the development of catalysis and synthetic applications. Three out of four classical Mizoroki–Heck catalytic cycle intermediates contain Pd–C bonds and are well known and studied in detail. However, a simple palladium hydride (which is formed after the product-releasing beta-H-elimination step) is a kind of elusive intermediate in the Mizoroki–Heck reaction. In the present study, we performed a combined theoretical and mass spectrometry (MS) study of palladium hydride complexes [PdX2H]− (X = Cl, Br, and I), which are reactive intermediates in the Mizoroki–Heck reaction. Static and molecular dynamic calculations revealed that these species have a T-shaped structure with a trans-arrangement of halogen atoms. Other isomers of [PdX2H]− are unstable and easily rearrange into the T-shaped form or decompose. These palladium hydride intermediates were detected by MS in precatalyst activation using NaBH4, Et3N, and a solvent molecule as reducing agents. Online MS monitoring allowed the detection of [PdX2H]− species in the course of the Mizoroki–Heck reaction.

The development of new drugs is accelerated by rapid access to functionalized and D-labeled molecules with improved activity and pharmacokinetic profiles. Diverse synthetic procedures often involve the usage of gaseous reagents, which can be a difficult task due to the requirement of a dedicated laboratory setup. Here, we developed a special reactor for the on-demand production of gases actively utilized in organic synthesis (C₂H₂, H₂, C₂D₂, D₂, and CO₂) that completely eliminates the need for high-pressure equipment and allows for integrating gas generation into advanced laboratory practice. The reactor was developed by computer-aided design and manufactured using a conventional 3D printer with polypropylene and nylon filled with carbon fibers as materials. The implementation of the reactor was demonstrated in representative reactions with acetylene, such as atom-economic nucleophilic addition (conversions of 19–99%) and nickel-catalyzed S-functionalization (yields 74–99%). One of the most important advantages of the reactor is the ability to generate deuterated acetylene (C₂D₂) and deuterium gas (D₂), which was used for highly significant, atom-economic and cost-efficient deuterium labeling of S,O-vinyl derivatives (yield 68–94%). Successful examples of their use in organic synthesis are provided to synthesize building blocks of heteroatom-functionalized and D-labeled biologically active organic molecules.

The processes involving the capture of free radicals were explored by performing DFT molecular dynamics simulations and modeling of reaction energy profiles. We describe the idea of a radical recognition assay, where not only the presence of a radical but also the nature/reactivity of a radical may be assessed. The idea is to utilize a set of radical-sensitive molecules as tunable sensors, followed by insight into the studied radical species based on the observed reactivity/selectivity. We utilize this approach for selective recognition of common radicals—alkyl, phenyl, and iodine. By matching quantum chemical calculations with experimental data, we show that components of a system react differently with the studied radicals. Possible radical generation processes were studied involving model reactions under UV light and metal-catalyzed conditions.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) belong to a well-known class of cationic biocides with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. They are used as essential components in surfactants, personal hygiene products, cosmetics, softeners, dyes, biological dyes, antiseptics, and disinfectants. Simple but varied in their structure, QACs are divided into several subclasses: Mono-, bis-, multi-, and poly-derivatives. Since the beginning of the 20th century, a significant amount of work has been dedicated to the advancement of this class of biocides. Thus, more than 700 articles on QACs were published only in 2020, according to the modern literature. The structural variability and diverse biological activity of ionic liquids (ILs) make them highly prospective for developing new types of biocides. QACs and ILs bear a common key element in the molecular structure–quaternary positively charged nitrogen atoms within a cyclic or acyclic structural framework. The state-of-the-art research level and paramount demand in modern society recall the rapid development of a new generation of tunable antimicrobials. This review focuses on the main QACs exhibiting antimicrobial and antifungal properties, commercial products based on QACs, and the latest discoveries in QACs and ILs connected with biocide development.

Sparkling drinks such as cola can be considered an affordable and inexpensive starting material consisting of carbohydrates and sulfur- and nitrogen-containing organic substances in phosphoric acid, which makes them an excellent precursor for the production of heteroatom-doped carbon materials. In this study, heteroatom-doped carbon materials were successfully prepared in a quick and simple manner using direct carbonization of regular cola and diet cola. The low content of carbon in diet cola allowed reaching a higher level of phosphorus in the prepared carbon material, as well as obtaining additional doping with nitrogen and sulfur due to the presence of sweeteners and caffeine. Effects of carbon support doping with phosphorus, nitrogen and sulfur, as well as of changes in textural properties by ball milling, on the catalytic activity of palladium catalysts were investigated in the Suzuki–Miyaura and Mizoroki–Heck reactions. Contributions of the heteroatom doping and specific surface area of the carbon supports to the increased activity of supported catalysts were discussed. Additionally, the possibility of these reactions to proceed in 40% potable ethanol was studied. Moreover, transformation of various palladium particles (complexes and nanoparticles) in the reaction medium was detected by mass spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy, which evidenced the formation of a cocktail of catalysts in a commercial 40% ethanol/water solution

Acetylene surrogates are efficient tools in modern organic chemistry with largely unexplored potential in the construction of heterocyclic cores. Two novel synthetic paths to 3,6-disubstituted pyridazines were proposed using readily available acetylene surrogates through flexible C2 unit installation procedures in a common reaction space mode (one-pot) and distributed reaction space mode (two-chamber): (1) an interaction of 1,2,4,5-tetrazine and its acceptor-functionalized derivatives with a CaC2-H2O mixture performed in a two-chamber reactor led to corresponding pyridazines in quantitative yields; (2) [4+2] cycloaddition of 1,2,4,5-tetrazines to benzyl vinyl ether can be considered a universal synthetic path to a wide range of pyridazines. Replacing water with D2O and vinyl ether with its trideuterated analog in the developed procedures, a range of 4,5-dideuteropyridazines of 95-99% deuteration degree was synthesized for the first time. Quantum chemical modeling allowed to quantify the substituent effect in both synthetic pathways.

The analysis of products synthesized by Cu-catalyzed click reactions can be complicated due to the presence of metal impurities in isolated substances, which may "selectively" distort some signals in NMR spectra. Such a pronounced impurity effect was found in both 1H and 13C NMR spectra for a number of 1,4-substituted 1,2,3-triazoles. Recording of the full undistorted spectra is possible with additional product treatment, with more thorough purification, or by recording the spectra at low temperatures. The reasons for the distortion and disappearance of signals have been thoroughly studied; it was shown that impurities of paramagnetic metal ions in small amounts lead to this effect. Here, we want to deliver a warning message to the community: when all NMR signals in a spectrum are distorted, this situation is easy to detect. However, if only a few signals are "selectively" removed by impurities and the rest of the spectrum appears normal, this situation is much harder to notice. Therefore, incorrect conclusions about chemical structure may be obtained. Here, we demonstrated the example of Cu2+ ions, but one may anticipate a similar effect for other paramagnetic metal contaminants if the organic molecule has a functional group capable of coordination (heteroatom or a multiple bond).

The ability to distinguish molecular catalysis from nanoscale catalysis provides a key to success in the field of catalyst development, particularly for the transition to sustainable economies. Complex evolution of catalyst precursors, facilitated by dynamic interconversions and leaching, makes the identification of catalytically active forms an independent task, sometimes very difficult. We propose a simple method for in situ capturing of nanoparticles with carbon-coated grids directly from reaction mixtures. Application of this method to Mizoroki-Heck reaction allowed visualization of dynamic changes of the dominant form of palladium particles in reaction mixtures with homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst precursors. Changes in the size and shape of palladium particles reflecting the progress of the catalytic chemical reaction were demonstrated. Detailed computational modeling was carried out to confirm the generality of this approach and its feasibility for different catalytic systems. The computational models revealed strong binding of metal particles to the carbon coating comprising efficient binding sites. The approach was tested for trapping Cr, Co, Ag, Ni, Cu, Pd, Cd, Ir, Ru and Rh nanoparticles from solutions containing micromolar starting concentrations of the metal precursors. The developed approach provides a unique tool for studying intrinsic properties of catalytic systems.

The hydrogenation of unsaturated double bonds with molecular hydrogen is an efficient atom-economic approach to the production of a wide range of fine chemicals. In contrast to a number of reducing reagents typically involved in organic synthesis, hydrogenation with H₂ is much more sustainable since it does not produce wastes (i.e., reducing reagent residues). However, its full sustainable potential may be achieved only in the case of easily separable catalysts and high reaction selectivity. In this work, various Pd/C catalysts were used for the liquid-phase hydrogenation of O-, S-, and N-vinyl derivatives with molecular hydrogen under mild reaction conditions (room temperature, pressure of 1 MPa). Complete conversion and high hydrogenation selectivity (>99%) were achieved by adjusting the type of Pd/C catalyst. Thus, the proposed procedure can be used as a sustainable method for vinyl group transformation by hydrogenation reactions. The discovery of the stability of active vinyl functional groups conjugated with heteroatoms (O, S, and N) under hydrogenation conditions over Pd/C catalysts opens the way for many useful transformations.

Petroleum contains a large number of heteroatomic compounds, but today, most of them are not efficiently utilized. The constant development of the sustainability concept recalls for rethinking the usage of fossil resources with improved chemical utility. In order to initiate research aimed at involving active petroleum compounds in chemical transformations, a new analytical method for product detection is needed. Here, we study the click reaction of thiols with alkynes, leading to the formation of α-vinyl sulfides directly in the petroleum environment. The reaction was carried out using an (IMes)Pd(acac)Cl catalyst, which demonstrated tolerance to petroleum components. In this study, the concentration of thiols ranged from 1 M to 0.01 M (from 8% to 0.1%). To detect products at low concentrations, a special alkyne labeled with an imidazole moiety was used. This approach made it possible to observe the formation of vinyl sulfides by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), which provides an opportunity for further optimization of the reaction conditions and future developments for the direct involvement of oil components in chemical reactions.

A series of sterically hindered tri- tert-butyl(n-alkyl)phosphonium salts (n-C_nH_2n+1 with n = 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17) was synthesized and systematically studied by ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and melting point measurement. Formation and stabilization palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) were used to characterize the phosphonium ionic liquid (PIL) nanoscale interaction ability. The colloidal Pd in the PIL systems was described with TEM and DLS analyses and applied in the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. The PILs were proven to be suitable stabilizers of PdNPs possessing high catalytic activity. The tri-tert-butyl(n-alkyl)phosphonium salts showed a complex nonlinear correlation of the structure–property relationship. The synthesized family of PILs has a broad variety of structural features, including hydrophobic and hydrophilic structures that are entirely expressed in the diversity of their properties.

Acetylene is a key building block for organic chemistry and potentially can be involved in a diverse range of synthetic transformations. However, critical analysis of practical considerations showed that application of gaseous acetylene in regular synthetic labs encounters a number of difficulties. Safety limitations due to flammable and explosive nature of gaseous acetylene and requirements for specialized high‐pressure equipment impose serious drawbacks. Typical reaction conditions involve excess of gaseous reactant, which is simply released to the atmosphere at the end of the reaction, thus generating waste and causing contamination. Calcium carbide brings a new green and sustainable wave into powerful alkyne transformations and significantly expands the repertoire of traditional acetylene chemistry. The novel trend of using calcium carbide instead of gaseous acetylene is synthetically beneficial and opens a novel reactivity for the C≡C unit. This review highlights recent advances in carbide chemistry, demonstrates its advantages and prospects in term of green synthetic approach.

In this work, a universal synthetic approach to the synthesis of D2-labeled nitrogen heterocycles based on cycloaddition reactions of in situ generated dideuteroacetylene is reported. A key feature of the developed method is the use of dioxane as a deuterium-exchange-proof solvent, which allowed dideuterosubstituted heterocycles to be obtained in up to 99% deuteration. The developed method was demonstrated to be suitable for the synthesis of D2-labeled triazoles, isoxazoles, pyrazoles and pyridazines.

Seven 1-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) and their aqueous solutions were systematically investigated in order to explore how the NMR spectroscopic properties (chemical shifts, spin–spin coupling constants) are connected or correlated with several physical and chemical properties (density, viscosity, water content, etc.) of ILs and their aqueous mixtures. 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts of ILs vary markedly depending on different anions, alkyl chain length, and water content. Addition of water affected the NMR parameters in various manners, altering several of them significantly, while others did not change distinctly. Dissimilar behavior of NMR parameters in various solvents at various concentrations allows one to conclude that they reflect several contributions from different properties of ILs and can be used for deep structural investigations.

Development of sustainable catalysts for synthetic transformations is one of the most challenging and demanding goals. The high prices of precious metals and the unavoidable leaching of toxic metal species leading to environmental contamination make the transition metal-free catalytic systems especially important. Here we demonstrate that carbene active centers localized on carbon atoms at the zigzag edge of graphene represent an alternative platform for efficient catalytic carbon–carbon bond formation in the synthesis of benzene. The studied acetylene trimerization reaction is an efficient atom-economic route to build an aromatic ring—a step ubiquitously important in organic synthesis and industrial applications. Computational modeling of the reaction mechanism reveals a principal role of the reversible spin density oscillations that govern the overall catalytic cycle, facilitate the product formation, and regenerate the catalytically active centers. Dynamic π-electron interactions in 2D carbon systems open new opportunities in the field of carbocatalysis, unachievable by means of transition metal-catalyzed transformations. The theoretical findings are confirmed experimentally by generating key moieties of the carbon catalyst and performing the acetylene conversion to benzene.

In this Essay, we present a critical analysis of two common practices in modern chemistry—that is, of using speculations about the "greenness" and "nontoxicity" of developed synthesis procedures and of a priori labelling various compounds derived from natural sources as being environmentally safe. We note that every organic molecule that contains functional groups should be biologically active. Thus, analysis of the particular greenness and the potential environmental impact of a given chemical process should account for the biological activity of all its components in a measureable (rather than empirical) way. We highlight the necessity of clarifying discussions on biological activity and toxicity and propose possible ways of introducing tox‐Profiles as a reliable overview of the overall toxicity of chemical reactions.

Catalytic atom-economic hydrothiolation of cyclopropyl acetylenes was developed. Using Pd/NHC complex as a precatalyst, regioselective addition of thiols to cyclopropyl acetylenes was successfully performed, leading to densely functionalized compounds in excellent selectivity (up to 99:1) and high yields (up to 99%). Formation of Markovnikov-type products by insertion of alkyne into the Pd–S bond was confirmed experimentally. Molecular dynamics of the alkyne insertion into the Pd–S bond was performed computationally to identify key factors controlling the remarkable regioselectivity of this process. The fundamental question of how a small difference in activation energies can result in very high regioselectivity has been addressed by experimental methods combined with computational modeling. We show that the insertion of alkyne into the Pd–S bond proceeds by an asynchronous mechanism, which starts with metal–carbon binding and resolves into diverse transient structures. We further demonstrate that dynamic involvement of these structures ensures regioselectivity of the entire process, thus providing a mechanistic link that has long been missing. Alkyne insertion into the metal–heteroatom bond is a fundamental elementary step and a corner stone of catalysis and organometallic chemistry that works for a large variety of metals and heteroatoms. Mastering its Markovnikov vs anti-Markovnikov selectivity provides powerful opportunities for the design of selective functionalization routes.

An efficient strategy was developed for directing-group-free C–H functionalization of biomass-derived C6 furanic building block. Palladium-catalyzed C–H functionalization of the low-reactive C3 position was successfully performed in 2,5-diformylfuran, an important derivative of the biobased platform chemical 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural. The ligand-free catalytic arylation was carried out without using protecting or directing groups, which is of key importance for the studied area to achieve waste-minimized and step-economic biomass processing. The experimental results combined with density functional theory calculations revealed a reaction mechanism and indicated that the presence of the aldehyde group is essential for catalytic reaction. Enolization of the aldehyde group and Pd binding play an important role in governing the overall C–H functionalization pathway. One of the obtained arylated furanic compounds was tested as a model substrate for reduction and oxidation of carbonyl groups to highlight its versatile synthetic potential.

Complexes of metals with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (M/NHC) are typically considered the systems of choice in homogeneous catalysis due to their stable metal−ligand framework. However, it becomes obvious that even metal species with a strong M-NHC bond can undergo evolution in catalytic systems, and processes of M-NHC bond cleavage are common for different metals and NHC ligands. This review is focused on the main types of the M-NHC bond cleavage reactions and their impact on activity and stability of M/NHC catalytic systems. For the first time, we consider these processes in terms of NHC-connected and NHC-disconnected active species derived from M/NHC precatalysts and classify them as fundamentally different types of catalysts. Problems of rational catalyst design and sustainability issues are discussed in the context of the two different types of M/NHC catalysis mechanisms.

An associative electron upconversion is proposed as a key step determining the selectivity of the thiol-yne coupling. The developed synthetic approach provided an efficient tool to access a comprehensive range of products - four types of vinyl sulfides were prepared in high yields and selectivity. Practically important, here we report the transition-metal-free regioselective thiol-yne addition and formation of the demanding Markovnikov-type product by radical photoredox reaction. The photochemical process was directly monitored by mass-spectrometry in a specially designed ESI-MS device with green laser excitation in the spray chamber. The proposed reaction mechanism is supported by experiments and DFT calculations.

The unique reactivity of the acetylenic unit in DMSO gives rise to ubiquitously developed synthetic methods. We theoretically consider CaC2 solubility and protolysis in DMSO and formulate a strategy for CaC2 activation in solution-phase chemical transformations. For this, we use a new strategy for the modeling of ionic compounds in strongly coordinating solvents combining Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics with DFTB3-D3(BJ) Hamiltonian and static DFT computations at the PBE0-D3(BJ)/pob-TZVP-gCP level. We modeled the thermodynamics of CaC2 protolysis under ambient conditions, taking into account its known heterogeneity and considering three polymorphs of CaC2. We give a theoretical basis for the existence of the elusive intermediate HC≡C-Ca-OH and show that CaC2 insolubility in DMSO is of thermodynamic nature. We confirm the unique role of water and specific properties of DMSO as unique activating agents for CaC2 and explain how the activation is realized. The implied strategy for the utilization of CaC2 in sustainable organic synthesis is outlined.

The present article describes a conceptual view on the design of reusable bioderived high-value-added materials. The translation of a highly complex irregular structure of natural biopolymer into a well-defined hierarchically organized molecular chain led to the discovery of unique adhesive properties enhanced by a novel multiple binding effect. For practical applications, biomass-derived furanic polyesters were found as reusable thermoplastic adhesives. Examined poly(ethylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF) and poly(hexamethylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PHF) showed strong adhesion to aluminum in single-lap shear tests (1.47 ± 0.1 and 1.18 ± 0.1 kN/cm², respectively). After the separation, the joints could be easily restored by reheating of the metal parts. Three consecutive cycles of regluing were successfully performed without a significant drop in the adhesive strength. Strong adhesion of the biomass-derived polymers to glass surfaces was also observed (0.93 ± 0.11 kN/cm² for PEF and 0.84 ± 0.06 kN/cm2 for PHF). An in-depth study of the surfaces after the shear tests, carried out by means of scanning electron microscopy, revealed predominantly cohesive failure in the case of aluminum samples and adhesive failure in the case of glass samples. Computational modeling revealed a multiple oxygen binding mode for the interaction of furanic polyester molecules with the glass surface and metal atoms. Only sustainable materials were used as a carbon source for the production of target polymers, which showed excellent compatibility with the practically most demanding constructing materials (a universal reusable hot-melt adhesive for copper, brass, Be-copper, Mn-bronze, zinc, aluminum, titanium, and glass).

The product of a revealed transformation — NHC‐ethynyl coupling — was observed as a catalyst transformation pathway in the Sonogashira cross‐coupling, catalyzed by Pd/NHC complexes. The 2‐ethynylated azolium salt was isolated in individual from and fully characterized, including the X‐Ray analysis. A number of possible intermediates of this transformation with common formulae (NHC)_xPd(C₂Ph) (x = 1,2) were observed and subjected to collision‐induced dissociation (CID) and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) experiments studies to elucidate their structure. Measured bond dissociation energies (BDEs) and IRMPD spectra were in an excellent agreement with quantum calculations for coupling product π‐complexes with Pd(0). Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed multiple observed CID fragmentation pathways. Performed study of catalyst evolution suggests the reported transformation to be considered in the development of new catalytic systems for alkyne functionalization reactions.

Many reactions catalyzed by Pd complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands are performed in the presence of amines which usually act as coupling reagents or mild bases. However, amines can react with Pd/NHC complexes in a number of ways: enhancing molecular catalysis, causing the catalyst deactivation or triggering the ligandless modes of catalysis by producing NHC-free active palladium species. This study gains insight into conditions required for the efficient use of amines as activators of molecular Pd/NHC catalysis and preventing the undesirable reductive cleavage of the Pd-NHC bond in catalytic systems. Reactions of Pd/NHC complexes with various amines within a temperature range of 25–140 °C and thermal stability of the resulting amino-complexes are examined. The results indicate the major influence of the amine structure and reaction temperature on the catalyst transformations. In particular, thermal decomposition of Pd/NHC complexes with aliphatic amine ligands predominantly leads to the reductive Pd-NHC bond cleavage, while deprotonation of the complexes with primary and secondary aliphatic amine ligands in the presence of strong bases at 25–60 °C promotes the activation of molecular Pd/NHC catalysis. Efficient Pd-PEPPSI complex – amine systems suitable for the strong-base-promoted C-S cross-coupling reactions between aryl halides and thiols are suggested on the basis of these findings.

A vinylation/devinylation looping system for acetaldehyde manufacturing was evaluated. Vinylation of iso‐butanol with calcium carbide under solvent‐free conditions was combined with hydrolysis of the resulting iso‐butyl vinyl ether under slightly acidic conditions. Acetaldehyde produced by hydrolysis was collected from the reaction mixture by simple distillation, and the remaining alcohol was redirected to the vinylation step. All the inorganic co‐reagents can be looped as well, and the full sequence is totally sustainable. A complete acetaldehyde manufacturing cycle was proposed on the basis of the developed procedure. The cycle was fed with calcium carbide and produced the aldehyde as a single product in a total preparative yield of 97 %. No solvents, hydrocarbons, or metal catalysts were needed to maintain the cycle. As calcium carbide in principle can be synthesized from virtually any source of carbon, the developed technology represents an excellent example of biomass and waste conversion into a valuable industrial product.

A unique ordering effect has been observed in functional catalytic nanoscale materials. Instead of randomly arranged binding to the catalyst surface, metal nanoparticles show spatially ordered behavior resulting in formation of geometrical patterns. Understanding of such nanoscale materials and analysis of corresponding microscopy images will never be comprehensive without appropriate reference datasets. Here we describe the first dataset of electron microscopy images comprising individual nanoparticles which undergo ordering on a surface towards the formation of geometrical patterns. The dataset developed in this study spans three levels of nanoscale organization: (i) individual nanoparticles (1–5 nm) and arrays of nanoparticles (5–20 nm), (ii) ordering effects (20–200 nm) and (iii) complex patterns (from nm to μm scales). The described dataset for the first time provides a possibility for the development of machine learning algorithms to study the unique phenomena of nanoparticles ordering and hierarchical organization.

In this work, the transfer of the flexible and easily tunable hierarchical structure of nickel organochalcogenides to different binary Ni-based nanomaterials via selective coupling of organic units was developed. We suggested the use of substituted aryl groups in organosulfur ligands (SAr) as traceless structure-inducing units to prepare nanostructured materials. At the first step, it was shown that the slight variation of the type of SAr units and synthetic procedures allowed us to obtain nickel thiolates [Ni(SAr) ₂]_n with diverse morphologies after a self-assembly process in solution. This feature opened the way for the synthesis of different nanomaterials from a single type of precursor using the phenomenon of direct transfer of morphology. This study revealed that various nickel thiolates undergo selective C–S coupling under high-temperature conditions with the formation of highly demanding nanostructured NiS particles and corresponding diaryl sulfides. The in situ oxidation of the formed nickel sulfide in the case of reaction in an air atmosphere provided another type of valuable nanomaterial, nickel oxide. The high selectivity of the transformation allowed the preservation of the initial organochalcogenide morphologies in the resulting products.

Several recent studies have shown unique adsorption activity of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) towards unsaturated hydrocarbons. In the current article, we explored the application of Ni-MOFs for S-functionalization of acetylene. We showed that Ni-MOF-74 catalyzed the reaction of disulfide addition to gaseous acetylene with excellent selectivity. The prime advantage of the proposed Ni-MOF-74 over other examined catalysts was its easy separation and recycling possibility. Moreover, it demonstrated no leaching of Ni species into the solution. The work was supplemented with a study on the catalyst behavior in the course of the reaction by using SEM, EDX, XRD, and FT-IR methods.

This work reveals ambident nucleophilic reactivity of imidazolium cations towards carbonyl compounds at the C2 or C4 carbene centers depending on the steric properties of the substrates and reaction conditions. Such an adaptive behavior indicates the dynamic nature of organocatalysis proceeding via a covalent interaction of imidazolium carbenes with carbonyl substrates and can be explained by generation of the H‐bonded ditopic carbanionic carbenes.

A method for protection of alcohols with vinyl groups is suggested and studied in detail. The procedures of protection and deprotection via vinylation and devinylation reactions are evaluated. Vinylation reaction is performed using cheap and convenient calcium carbide reagent. Stability of the vinyl group under various conditions is examined. The vinyl group is found to be stable under basic conditions and labile under acidic conditions. The vinyl protecting group shows high tolerance to functional groups and good compatibility with common synthetic reagents. Applicability of the procedure in the Suzuki and Sonogashira catalytic reactions and its flexible utilization in the reaction with Grignard reagent are demonstrated.

Among different types of labeling, ¹³C-labeled compounds are the most demanding in organic chemistry, life sciences and materials design. However, ¹³C-labeled organic molecules are very difficult to employ in practice due to extreme cost. The rather narrow range of labeled organic starting materials and the absence of universal synthetic building units further complicate the problem and make utilization of 13C-labeled molecules hardly possible in many cases. Here we report a versatile approach for ¹³C₂-labeling of organic molecules starting with ¹³C elemental carbon: ¹³C carbon is applied for the synthesis of calcium carbide (Ca¹³C₂), which is subsequently used to generate acetylene – a universal ¹³C₂ unit for atom-economic organic transformations. Syntheses of labeled alkynes, O,S,N-functionalized vinyl derivatives, polymers and pharmaceutical substances were demonstrated. Elemental ¹³C carbon, as the chemically most simple source for ¹³C₂-labeling, here was successfully combined with universal synthetic applicability of alkynes.

A novel synthetic path to 1,3‐disubstituted pyrazoles and their deuterated derivatives was developed. It is based on the reaction of vinyl ethers with hydrazonoyl chlorides in the presence of triethylamine. The reaction mechanism, clarified by the joint experimental and computational study, involves 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of the in situ generated nitrile imines to vinyl ethers and subsequent cleavage of alcohol from the formed alkoxypyrazoline. The results highlight the possibility of using vinyl ethers as acetylene surrogate and provide a novel access to pyrazoles, 4,5‐dideuteropyrazoles and their regioselectively labeled derivatives, 5‐deuteropyrazoles.

This review highlights recent progress in the synthesis and application of vinyl ethers (VEs) as monomers for modern homo- and co-polymerization processes. VEs can be easily prepared using a number of traditional synthetic protocols including a more sustainable and straightforward manner by reacting gaseous acetylene or calcium carbide with alcohols. The remarkably tunable chemistry of VEs allows designing and obtaining polymers with well-defined structures and controllable properties. Both VE homopolymerization and copolymerization systems are considered, and specific emphasis is given to the novel initiating systems and to the methods of stereocontrol.

During the last decades, micro-structuring phenomena, formation of polar domains and assembling of nano-scale heterogeneities in ionic liquids (ILs) have been discovered. Here we assess the influence of structuring effects in solution on biological activity of ionic systems. In the present work, we studied cytotoxicity of aqueous solutions of binary mixtures of common ILs and showed that it mostly did not comply with the concentration addition model thus suggesting the occurrence of toxicity-affecting interactions in the media. In most cases, antagonistic effects were observed in the studied systems. Micro-heterogeneous water structures were experimentally detected in the binary IL mixtures for the first time. By using a cytotoxicity assay, NMR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, a novel research direction was explored dealing with a relationship between dynamic structuring effects in ILs and their cytotoxicity.

Representative examples of the application of 3D printing in organic synthesis, biochemistry, biotechnology, analytical chemistry, pharmaceutics and chemical education are considered. It is shown that additive technologies open up new prospects for the development of these fields of science. The characteristics of widely used 3D printing methods (fused deposition modelling and stereolithography) are discussed in the context of chemical applications. It is noted that the key feature of these methods is the wide accessibility of technologies and materials.

Recent decades have been marked by enormous progress in the field of synthesis and chemistry of 5‐(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF), an important platform chemical widely recognized as the "sleeping giant" of sustainable chemistry. This multifunctional furanic compound is viewed as a strong link for the transition from the current fossil‐based industry to a sustainable one. However, the low chemical stability of HMF significantly undermines its synthetic potential. A possible solution to this problem is synthetic diversification of HMF by modifying it into more stable multifunctional building blocks for further synthetic purposes.

Developments in chemistry, materials science and biology have been fuelled by our search for structure–property relationships in matter at different levels of organization. Transformations in chemical synthesis and living systems predominantly take place in solution, such that many efforts have focused on studying nanoscale systems in the liquid phase. These studies have largely relied on spectroscopic data, the assignment of which can often be ambiguous. By contrast, electron microscopy can be used to directly visualize chemical systems and processes with up to atomic resolution. Electron microscopy is most amenable to studying solid samples and, until recently, to study a liquid phase, one had to remove solvent and lose important structural information. Over the past decade, however, liquid-phase electron microscopy has revolutionized direct mechanistic studies of reactions in liquid media. Scanning electron microscopy and (scanning) transmission electron microscopy of liquid samples have enabled breakthroughs in nanoparticle chemistry, soft-matter science, catalysis, electrochemistry, battery research and biochemistry. In this Review, we discuss the utility of liquid-phase electron microscopy for studying chemical reaction mechanisms in liquid systems.

Magnetic stir bars are routinely used by every chemist doing synthetic or catalytic transformations in solution. Each bar lasts for months or years, as the regular PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coating is believed to be highly durable, inert, and resistant to multiple washings and cleanings. By using electron microscopy, we found out quite unexpectedly that the surface of magnetic stir bars is susceptible to microscale destruction and forms various types of defects. These microscopic defects effectively trap and accumulate trace amounts of active components from reaction mixtures, most notably metal species. Trapped in surface defects, the impurities escape elimination by washing and cleaning, thus remaining on the surface. FE-SEM/EDX analysis shows that the surface of used stir bars is littered with contaminants representing a variety of metals (Pd, Pt, Au, Fe, Co, Cr, etc.). ESI-MS monitoring corroborates the transfer of the trace metal species to reaction mixtures, while chemical tests indicate their significant catalytic activity. A theoretical DFT study reveals a remarkably high binding energy of metal atoms to the PTFE surface, especially in cases of local mechanical disruption or chemical influence. A plausible mechanism of PTFE surface contamination is suggested, and the results show that metal contamination of reusable polymer-coated labware is greatly underestimated. The present study suggests that corresponding control experiments with an unused stir bar (to avoid misinterpretations due to the influence of contamination of magnetic stir bars) are a "must do" for reporting high-performance catalytic reactions, reactions with low catalyst loadings, metal-catalyst-free reactions, and mechanistic studies.

The mercury test is a rapid and widely used method for distinguishing truly homogeneous molecular catalysis from nanoparticle metal catalysis. In the current work, using various M ⁰ and M^II complexes of palladium and platinum that are often used in homogeneous catalysis as examples, we demonstrated that the mercury test is generally inadequate as a method for distinguishing between homogeneous and cluster/nanoparticle catalysis mechanisms for the following reasons: (i) the general and facile reactivity of both molecular M⁰ and M^II complexes toward metallic mercury and (ii) the very high and often unpredictable dependence of the test results on the operational conditions and the inability to develop universal quantitatively defined operational parameters. Two main types or mercury-induced transformations, the cleavage of M⁰ complexes and the oxidative–reductive transmetalation of M^II complexes, including a reaction of highly popular M^II/NHC complexes, were elucidated using NMR, ESI-MS, and EDXRF techniques. A mechanistic picture of the reactions involving metal complexes was revealed with mercury, and representative metal species were isolated and characterized. Even in an attempt to not overstate the results, one must note that the use of the mercury tests often leads to inaccurate conclusions and complicates the mechanistic studies of these catalytic systems. As a general concept, distinguishing reaction mechanisms (homogeneous vs cluster/nanoparticle) by using catalyst poisoning requires careful rethinking in the case of dynamic catalytic systems.

Reversible leaching of palladium nanoparticles occurs in a variety of catalytic reactions including cross-couplings, amination, the Heck reaction, etc. It is complemented by capturing of soluble palladium species on the surface of nanoparticles and de novo formation of nanoparticles from Pd precatalysts. We report here a detailed computational study of leaching/capture pathways and analysis of related stabilization energies. We demonstrate the validity of the "cocktail-of-species" model for the description of Pd catalysts in ArX oxidative addition-dependent reactions. Three pools of Pd species were evaluated, including (1) the pool of catalytically active Pd nanoparticles with a high concentration of surface defects, (2) the pool of monomeric and oligomeric L[ArPdX] _nL species, and (3) the pool of irreversibly deactivated Pd. Stabilization by ArX oxidative addition, coordination of base species, and binding of X− anions (derived from salt additives) were found to be crucial for "cocktail"-type systems, and the corresponding reaction energies were estimated. An inherent process of ArX homocoupling, leading to the formation of Pd halides that require re-activation, was considered as well. The pool of irreversibly deactivated Pd comprises nanoparticles with (1 1 1) and (1 0 0) facets and Pd in the bulk form. The study is based on DFT modeling and specifies the role of Pd nanoparticles in (quasi )homogeneous coupling reactions involving ArX reagents.

The paramount progress in the field of organic–inorganic hybrid nanomaterials was stimulated by numerous applications in chemistry, physics, life sciences, medicine, and technology. Currently, in the field of hybrid materials, researchers may choose either to mimic complex natural materials or to compete with nature by constructing new artificial materials. The deep mechanistic understanding and structural insight achieved in recent years will guide a new wave in the design of hybrid materials at the atomic and molecular levels.

N‐Heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHC) are ubiquitously utilized in catalysis. A common catalyst design model assumes strong M‐NHC binding in this metal‐ligand framework. In contrast to this common assumption, we demonstrate here that lability and controlled cleavage of the M‐NHC bond (rather than its stabilization) could be more important for high‐performance catalysis at low catalyst concentrations. The present study reveals a dynamic stabilization mechanism with labile metal‐NHC binding and [PdX ₃]^–[NHC‐R]⁺ ion pair formation. Access to reactive anionic palladium intermediates formed by dissociation of the NHC ligands and plausible stabilization of the molecular catalyst in solution by interaction with the [NHC‐R]⁺ azolium cation is of particular importance for an efficient and recyclable catalyst. These ionic Pd/NHC complexes allowed for the first time the recycling of the complex in a well‐defined form with isolation at each cycle. Computational investigation of the reaction mechanism confirms a facile formation of NHC‐free anionic Pd in polar media via either Ph‐NHC coupling or reversible H‐NHC coupling. The present study formulates novel ideas for M/NHC catalyst design.

Calcium carbide, a stable solid compound composed of two atoms of carbon and one of calcium, has proven its effectiveness in chemical synthesis, due to the safety and convenience of handling the C≡C acetylenic units. The areas of CaC ₂ application are very diverse, and the development of calcium‐mediated approaches resolves several important challenges. This Review aims to discuss the laboratory chemistry of calcium carbide, and to go beyond its frontiers to organic synthesis, life sciences, materials and construction, carbon dioxide capturing, alloy manufacturing, and agriculture. The recyclability of calcium carbide and the availability of large‐scale industrial production facilities, as well as the future possibility of fossil‐resource‐independent manufacturing, position this compound as a key chemical platform for sustainable development. Easy regeneration and reuse of the carbide highlight calcium‐based sustainable chemical technologies as promising instruments for total carbon recycling.

Bring on the subs! Biorefining will be realized by using two different approaches: the production of new biobased molecular targets or sustainable access to traditional base and commodity chemicals. Awakening of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) can be expected with different probabilities, depending on the approach chosen to create a sustainable future.

Oxidative esterification of biomass-derived 5-(hydroxymethyl) furfural (HMF) and furfural and their derivatives has been performed using a simple MnO 2/NaCN system. The developed method allows the selective one-pot transformation of HMF to dimethyl furan-2,5-dicarboxylate (FDME) in 83% isolated yield without the formation of a free acid. Simplification of FDME production provides the missing link for manufacturing sustainable value-added materials from biomass. Addition of water to the oxidative system allows fine-tuning of reaction selectivity to obtain the previously difficult-to-access pure methyl 5-(hydroxylmethyl)furan-2-carboxylate in one step directly from the unprotected HMF without chromatographic separation.

An efficient two-step procedure to get synthetically useful sulfur-functionalized dienes is evaluated. The overall transformation can be classified as an atom-economic hydrothiolation of alkynes followed by elimination of water at the dehydration step. Taking the alkynes hydrofunctionalization reaction as a representative example, critical analysis from the point of view of quantitative green metrics was carried out and key stumbling blocks in the area of atom-economic transformations were discussed. Ecological acceptability of the whole process was assessed by thorough examination of the yields and careful adjustment of the synthetic conditions, considering the opportunities for waste minimization. Careful optimization of the reaction conditions was followed by selection of environmentally friendly protocols for accessing pure product. Green metrics of synthetic procedures as well as different isolation techniques (column chromatography, dry column chromatography, extraction, and distillation) were comparatively analyzed to afford minimization of waste and improve efficiency. For the first time, quantitative green metrics and life cycle assessment were applied and optimized for a very popular atom-economic functionalization process.

Low chemical stability and high oxygen content limits utilization of bio‐based platform chemical 5‐(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) in biofuels development. In this work, Lewis‐acid‐catalyzed conversion of renewable 6‐deoxy sugars leading to formation of more stable 5‐methylfurfural (MF) is carried out with high selectivity. Besides its higher stability, MF is a deoxygenated analogue of HMF with increased C:O ratio. A highly selective synthesis of the innovative liquid biofuel 2,5‐dimethylfuran starting from MF under mild conditions is described. Superior synthetic utility of MF against HMF in benzoin and aldol condensation reactions leading to long‐chain alkane precursors is demonstrated.

2-Azidomethyl-5-ethynylfuran, a new ambivalent compound with both azide and alkyne moieties that can be used as a self-clickable monomer, is synthesized starting directly from renewable biomass. The reactivity of the azide group linked to furfural is tested via the efficient preparation of a broad range of furfural-containing triazoles in good to excellent yields using a 'green' copper(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition procedure. Access to new bio-based chemicals and oligomeric materials via a click-chemistry approach is also demonstrated using this bio-derived building block.

It has recently been shown that palladium-catalyzed reactions with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands involve R–NHC coupling accompanied by transformation of the molecular catalytic system into the nanoscale catalytic system. An important question appeared in this regard is whether such a change in the catalytic system is irreversible. More specifically, is the reverse nano-to-molecular transformation possible? In view of the paramount significance of this question to the area of catalyst design, we studied the capability of 2-substituted azolium salts to undergo the breakage of C–C bond and exchange substituents on the carbene carbon with corresponding aryl halides in the presence of Pd nanoparticles. The study provides important experimental evidence of possibility of the reversible R–NHC coupling. The observed behavior indicates that the nanosized metal species are capable of reverse transition to molecular species. Such an option, known for phosphine ligands, was previously unexplored for NHC ligands. The present study for the first time demonstrates bidirectional dynamic transitions between the molecular and nanostructured states in Pd/NHC systems. As a unique feature, surprisingly small activation barriers ( <18 kcal/mol) and noticeable thermodynamic driving force (−5 to −7 kcal/mol) were calculated for c–c bond oxidative addition to pd(0) centers in the studied system. the first example of nhc-mediated pd leaching from metal nanoparticles to solution was observed and formation of pd/nhc complex in solution was detected by esi-ms.

A well‐established oxidative addition of organic halides (R‐X) to N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of palladium(0) leads to formation of (NHC)(R)Pd ^II(X)L species, the key intermediates in a large variety of synthetically useful cross‐coupling reactions. Typical consideration of the cross‐coupling catalytic cycle is based on the assumption of intrinsic stability of these species, where the subsequent steps involve coordination of the second reacting partner. Thus, high stability of the intermediate (NHC)(R)Pd^II(X)L species is usually taken for granted. In the present study it is discussed that such intermediates are prone to non‐classical R‐NHC intramolecular coupling process (R = Me, Ph, Vinyl, Ethynyl) that results in removal of NHC ligand and generation of another type of Pd catalytic system. DFT calculations (BP86, TPSS, PBE1PBE, B3LYP, M06, wB97X‐D) clearly show that outcome of R‐NHC coupling process is not only determined by chemical nature of the organic substituent R, but also strongly depends on the type of solvent. The reaction is most favorable in polar solvents, whereas the non‐polar solvents render the products less stable.

R–NHC coupling was previously considered as a process of degradation of M/NHC species, however recent studies have pointed out that it may be responsible for generation of catalytically active NHC-free complexes or/and metallic nanoparticles. Therefore, a detailed and systematic study of R-NHC coupling for various carbene ligands is an important topic. In the present article this process has been studied for reactive aryl iodide coupling partners by a combination of quantum chemical calculations and continuous reaction monitoring via pressurized sample infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PSI-ESI-MS). DFT calculations revealed strong tendency of (NHC)Pd(Ph)(I)DMF complexes bearing various N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHC) to undergo Ph–NHC coupling. Calculated energy barriers of these reactions lie in the range of 17.9 – 25.1 kcal/mol. Ph–NHC coupling is thermodynamically more favorable for the complexes containing unsaturated NHC ligands with bulky substituents. NBO analysis has suggested that the process of Ph–NHC formation is similar for different NHC ligands. In order to confirm theoretical studies, a series of ESI-MS reaction monitoring experiments was performed for (NHC)Pd(I)2(Py) and (NHC)Pd(Cl)(η3-1-Ph-C3H4) complexes interacting with iodobenzene, where Ph–NHC coupling products were observed in all cases. As a direct experimental evidence, formation of colloidal Pd-containing nanoparticles was observed in situ for different Pd/NHC complexes in the studied reaction mixtures.

The complexes of Ni, Pd, and Pt with N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) catalyze numerous organic reactions via proposed typical M⁰/M^II catalytic cycles comprising intermediates with the metal center in (0) and (II) oxidation states. In addition, MII/MIVcatalytic cycles have been proposed for a number of reactions. The catalytic intermediates in both cycles can suffer decomposition via R–NHC coupling and the side reductive elimination of the NHC ligand and R groups (R = alkyl, aryl, etc.) to give [NHC–R]⁺ cations. In this study, the relative stabilities of (NHC)M^II(R)(X)L and (NHC)M^IV(R)(X)₃L intermediates (X = Cl, Br, I; L = NHC, pyridine) against R–NHC coupling and other decomposition pathways via reductive elimination reactions were evaluated theoretically. The study revealed that the R–NHC coupling represents the most favorable decomposition pathway for both types of intermediates (M^II and M^IV), while it is thermodynamically and kinetically more facile for the MIV complexes. The relative effects of the metal M (Ni, Pd, Pt) and ligands L and X on the R–NHC coupling for the MIVcomplexes were significantly stronger than that for the MII complexes. In particular, for the (NHC)₂M^IV(Ph)(Br)₃ complexes, Ph–NHC coupling was facilitated dramatically from Pt (ΔG = −36.9 kcal mol⁻¹, ΔG^≠ = 37.5 kcal mol⁻¹) to Pd (ΔG = −61.5 kcal mol⁻¹, ΔG^≠ = 18.3 kcal mol⁻¹) and Ni (ΔG = −80.2 kcal mol⁻¹, ΔG^≠ = 4.7 kcal mol⁻¹). For the MIIoxidation state of the metal, the bis-NHC complexes (L = NHC) were slightly more kinetically and thermodynamically stable against R–NHC coupling than the mono-NHC complexes (L = pyridine). An inverse relation was observed for the MIV oxidation state of the metal as the (NHC)₂M^IV(R)(X)₃ complexes were kinetically (4.3–15.9 kcal mol⁻¹) and thermodynamically (8.0–23.2 kcal mol⁻¹) significantly less stable than the (NHC)M^IV(R)(X)₃L (L = pyridine) complexes. For the Ni^IV and Pd^IV complexes, additional decomposition pathways via the reductive elimination of the NHC and X ligands to give the [NHC–X]⁺ cation (X–NHC coupling) or reductive elimination of the X–X molecule were found to be thermodynamically and kinetically probable. Overall, the obtained results demonstrate significant instability of regular Ni/NHC and Pd/NHC complexes (for example, not additionally stabilized by chelation) and high probability to initiate "NHC-free" catalysis in the reactions comprising M^IV intermediates.

The article provides the first example of metal-catalyzed aryl disulfide addition to unsubstituted acetylene. The use of inexpensive Ni(acac)2 precatalyst with phosphine ligands results in competitive formation of Z-1,2-bis(arylthio)ethenes and Z,Z-1,4-bis(arylthio)buta-1,3-dienes. The process with the PPhCy2 as a ligand results in selective formation of diene molecular skeletons. Replacement of PPhCy2 with the PPh3 switches the reaction toward formation of alkenes. The use of substituted phenyl disulfides does not affect the selectivity and allows obtaining alkenes or dienes in good to high yields. Mechanistic investigations reveal major differences on the catalyst activation stage depending on the nature of phosphine ligand. Key novel point is to carry out video-monitoring of catalyst evolution with electron microscopy, which revealed the dynamic nature of the catalytic system and showed that the ligand played a prominent role in formation of the catalytically active phase. For PPh3, the development of catalytically active species proceeds through nickel thiolate [Ni(SAr)2]n formation, which renders the system heterogeneous. In contrast to PPh3, the PPhCy2 ligand promotes direct activation of the catalyst in its molecular form without disturbing the homogeneous state of the system.

A highly‐efficient catalytic system for hydrodebenzylation reaction is described. The cleavage of O‐benzyl and N‐benzyl protecting groups was performed using an uncommonly low palladium loading (0.02–0.3 mol%; TON up to 5000) in a relatively short reaction time. The approach was used for a variety of substrates including pharmaceutically important precursors, and gram‐scale deprotection reaction was shown. Transfer conditions together with easy‐to‐make Pd/C catalyst are the key features of this debenzylation scheme.

Solvent‐free reactions belong to a very attractive area of organic chemistry. The solvent‐free Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling is of special importance due to the problem of catalyst leaching in the presence of a solvent. This study investigates the course of reaction of solid aryl halides with arylboronic acids in the absence of a solvent and without any liquid additives. For the first time, a number of important conditions for performing a solid‐state Suzuki‐Miyaura reaction were analyzed in details. The results indicate a prominent role of water, which is formed as a by‐product in the side reaction of arylboronic acid trimerization. Electron microscopy study revealed surprising changes occurring within the reaction mixture during the reaction and indicated the formation of spherical nano‐sized particles containing the reaction product. Catalyst recycling was easily performed in the developed system and the product was isolated by sublimation, thus providing a possibility to completely avoid the use of solvents at all stages.

In recent years, the application of microwave (MW) irradiation has played an increasingly important role in the synthesis and development of high performance nanoscale catalytic systems. However, the interaction of microwave irradiation with solid catalytic materials and nanosized structures remains a poorly studied topic. In this paper we carried out a systematic study of changes in morphology under the influence of microwave irradiation on nanoscale particles of various metals and composite particles, including oxides, carbides, and neat metal systems. All systems were studied in the native solid form without a solvent added. Intensive absorption of microwave radiation was observed for many samples, which in turn resulted in strong heating of the samples and changes in their chemical structure and morphology. A comparison of two very popular catalytic materials—metal particles (M) and supported metal on carbon (M/C) systems—revealed a principal difference in their behavior under microwave irradiation. The presence of carbon support influences the heating mechanism; the interaction of substances with the support during the heating is largely determined by heat transfer from the carbon. Etching of the carbon surface, involving the formation of trenches and pits on the surface of the carbon support, were observed for various types of the investigated nanoparticles.

A catalytic system based on OX-1 metal–organic framework nanosheets is reported, incorporating catalytically active palladium (Pd) species. The Pd@OX-1 guest@host system is rapidly synthesized via a one-step single-pot supramolecular assembly, with the possibility of controlling the Pd loading. The structures of the resulting framework and of the active Pd species before and after catalytic reactions are studied in detail using a wide variety of techniques including synchrotron radiation infrared spectroscopy, inelastic neutron scattering, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Crystals of the resulting Pd@OX-1 composite material contain predominantly atomic and small cluster Pd species, which selectively reside on benzene rings of the benzenedicarboxylate (BDC) linkers. The composites are shown to efficiently catalyze the Suzuki coupling and Heck arylation reactions under a variety of conditions. Pd@OX-1 further shows potential to be recycled for at least five cycles of each reaction as well as an ability to recapture active Pd species during both catalytic reactions.

Until recently, chemical derivatives of platinum group metals have not been in a systematic direct contact with living organisms. The situation has changed dramatically due to anthropogenic activity, which has led to significant redistribution of these metals in the biosphere. Millions of modern cars are equipped with automotive catalytic converters, which contain rhodium, palladium and platinum as active elements. Everyday usage of catalytic technologies promotes the propagation of catalyst components in the environment. Nevertheless, we still have not accumulated profound information on possible ecotoxic effects of these metal pollutants. In this study, we report a case of an extraordinarily rapid development of lethal toxicity of a rhodium (III) salt in the terrestrial plants Pisum sativum, Lupinus angustifolius and Cucumis sativus. The growth stage, at which the exposure occurred, had a crucial impact on the toxicity manifestation: at earlier stages, RhCl₃ killed the plants within 24 h. In contrast, the salt was relatively low-toxic in human fibroblasts. We also address phytotoxicity of other common metal pollutants, such as palladium, iron, nickel and copper, together with their cytotoxicity. None of the tested compounds exhibited phytotoxic effects comparable with that of RhCl₃. These results evidence the crucial deficiency in our knowledge on environmental dangers of newly widespread metal pollutants.

A novel methodology for the preparation of trideuterovinyl derivatives of high purity directly from alcohols, thiols, and NH-compounds was developed. Commercially available calcium carbide and D ₂O acted as a D₂-acetylene source, and DMSO-d 6 was used to complete the formation of the D₂C=C(D)–X fragment (X = O, S, N). Polymerization of a selected trideuterovinylated compound showed a very promising potential of these substances in the synthesis of labeled polymeric materials. Biological activity of the synthesized trideuterovinyl derivatives was evaluated and the results indicated a significant increase of cytotoxicity upon deuteration.

Poor stability of 3D printed plastic objects in a number of solvents limits several important applications in engineering, chemistry and biology. Due to layered type of assembling, 3D-printed surfaces possess rather different properties as compared to bulk surfaces made by other methods. Here we study fundamental interactions at the solid-liquid interface and evaluate polymeric materials towards advanced additive manufacturing. A simple and universal stability test was developed for 3D printed parts and applied to a variety of thermoplastics. Specific modes of resistance/destruction were described for different plastics and their compatibility to a representative scope of solvents (aqueous and organic) was evaluated. Classification and characterization of destruction modes for a wide range of conditions (including geometry and 3D printing parameters) were carried out. Key factors of tolerance to solvent media were investigated by electron microscopy. We show that the overall stability and the mode of destruction depend on chemical properties of the polymer and the nature of interactions at the solid-liquid interface. Importantly, stability also depends on the layered microstructure of the sample, which is defined by 3D printing parameters. Developed solvent compatibility charts for a wide range of polymeric materials (ABS, PLA, PLA-Cu, PETG, SBS, Ceramo, HIPS, Primalloy, Photoresin, Nylon, Nylon-C, POM, PE, PP) and solvents represent an important benchmark for practical applications.

The great impact of the nanoscale organization of reactive species on their performance in chemical transformations creates the possibility of fine-tuning of reaction parameters by modulating the nano-level properties. This methodology is extensively applied for the catalysts development whereas nanostructured reactants represent the practically unexplored area. Here we report the palladium- and copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction involving nano-structured nickel thiolate particles as reagents. On the basis of experimental findings we propose the cooperative effect of nano-level and molecular-level properties on their reactivity. The high degree of ordering, small particles size, and electron donating properties of the substituents favor the product formation. Reactant particles evolution in the reaction is visualized directly by dynamic liquid-phase electron microscopy including recording of video movies. Mechanism of the reaction in liquid phase is established using on-line mass spectrometry measurements. Together the findings provide new opportunities for organic chemical transformations design and for mechanistic studies.

Numerous reactions are catalyzed by complexes of metals (M) with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, typically in the presence of oxygen bases, which significantly shape the performance. It is generally accepted that bases are required for either substrate activation (exemplified by transmetallation in the Suzuki cross-coupling), or HX capture (e.g. in a variety of C–C and C-heteroatom couplings, the Heck reaction, C–H functionalization, heterocyclizations, etc.). This study gives insights into the behavior of M(_II)/NHC (M = Pd, Pt, Ni) complexes in solution under the action of bases conventionally engaged in catalysis (KOH, NaOH, t-BuOK, Cs₂CO₃, K₂CO₃, etc.). A previously unaddressed transformation of M(_II)/NHC complexes under conditions of typical base-mediated M/NHC catalyzed reactions is disclosed. Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes widely used in catalysis react with the bases to give M(0) species and 2(5)-oxo-substituted azoles via an O–NHC coupling mechanism. Ni(NHC)₂X₂ complexes hydrolyze in the presence of aqueous potassium hydroxide, and undergo the same O–NHC coupling to give azolones and metallic nickel under the action of t-BuOK under anhydrous conditions. The study reveals a new role of NHC ligands as intramolecular reducing agents for the transformation of M(II) into "ligandless" M(0) species. This demonstrates that the disclosed base-mediated O–NHC coupling reaction is integrated into the catalytic M/NHC systems and can define the mechanism of catalysis (molecular M/NHC vs. "NHC-free" cocktail-type catalysis). A proposed mechanism of the revealed transformation includes NHC-OR reductive elimination, as implied by a series of mechanistic studies including ¹⁸O labeling experiments.

Inorganic and organic "solvent-in-salt" (SIS) systems have been known for decades but have attracted significant attention only recently. Molten salt hydrates/solvates have been successfully employed as non-flammable, benign electrolytes in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries leading to a revolution in battery development and design. SIS with organic components (for example, ionic liquids containing small amounts of water) demonstrate remarkable thermal stability and tunability, and present a class of admittedly safer electrolytes, in comparison with traditional organic solvents. Water molecules tend to form nano- and microstructures (droplets and channel networks) in ionic media impacting their heterogeneity. Such microscale domains can be employed as microreactors for chemical and enzymatic synthesis. In this review, we address known SIS systems and discuss their composition, structure, properties and dynamics. Special attention is paid to the current and potential applications of inorganic and organic SIS systems in energy research, chemistry and biochemistry. A separate section of this review is dedicated to experimental methods of SIS investigation, which is crucial for the development of this field.

Biomass processing wastes (humins) are anticipated to become a large‐tonnage solid waste in the nearest future, owing to the accelerated development of renewable technologies based on utilization of carbohydrates. In this work, the utility of humins as a feedstock for the production of activated carbon by various methods (pyrolysis, physical and chemical activation, or combined approaches) was evaluated. The obtained activated carbons were tested as potential electrode materials for supercapacitor applications and demonstrated combined micro‐ and mesoporous structure with a good capacitance of 370 Fg−1 (at a current density of 0.5 Ag−1) and good cycling stability with a capacitance retention of 92% after 10,000 charge/discharge cycles (at 10 Ag−1 in 6 M aqueous KOH electrolyte). Applicability of the developed activated carbon for practical usage as a supercapacitor electrode material was demonstrated by its successful utilization in symmetric two‐electrode cells and powering electric devices. These findings provide a new approach to deal with the problem of sustainable wastes utilization and to advance challenging energy storage applications.

Palladium complexes with fluorinated acetylacetonate chelating ligands were studied as catalysts for alkyne hydrothiolation. A ten-fold increase in the catalytic efficiency was achieved by using 0.1 mol% of Pd(hfpd)₂ complex (hfpd = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) with a variety of thiol–yne coupling partners. The principal possibility of a hundred-fold increase in the efficiency of Pd-catalyzed Markovnikov-type RSH addition with 0.01 mol% of the catalyst was successfully achieved with the hfpd ligand for the first time. The hexafluoroacetylacetonate chelating ligand not only enhanced the affinity of palladium centers to the triple bond of acetylene, but also stabilized the catalytic system against formation of insoluble polymeric [Pd(SPh)₂]_n species, thus ensuring that the reaction operates homogeneously. Utilizing other diketonate ligands resulted in cocktail-type catalysis with variable and poorly predictable contributions of homogeneous and heterogeneous pathways.

Synthesizing chemicals and materials based on renewable sources is one of the main tasks of modern science. Carbohydrates represent excellent renewable natural raw materials, that are eco-friendly, inexpensive and biologically compatible. Herein, we developed a green vinylation procedure for carbohydrates using readily available calcium carbide. Various carbohydrates were utilized as starting materials resulting in mono-, di- and tetra-vinyl ethers in high to excellent yields (81-92 %). The synthesized bio-based vinyl ethers were utilized as monomers in free radical and cationic polymerizations. A unique combination of smooth surface and intrinsic microcompartments was achieved in the synthesized materials. Two types of bio-based materials were prepared involving microspheres and "Swiss cheese" polymers. Scanning electron microscopy with built-in ion beam cutting was applied to reveal the spatial hierarchical structures in three-dimensional space.

Recent advances in the area of biomass-derived C6-furanic platform chemicals for sustainable biomass processing are analyzed focusing on chemical reactions important for development of practical applications and materials science. Among the chemical processes currently being studied, tuning the amount of oxygen-containing functional groups remains the most active research direction. Production of efficient fuels requires the removal of oxygen atoms (reduction reactions), whereas utilization of biomass-derived furanic derivatives in material science points out the importance of oxidation in order to form dicarboxylic derivatives. Stimulated by this driving force, oxidation and reduction of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) are nowadays massively studied. Moreover, these fundamental transformations are often used as model reactions to test new catalysts, and HMF transformations guide the development of new catalytic systems. From the viewpoint of organic synthesis, highly diverse chemical reactivity is explored and a number of bioderived synthetic building blocks with different functional groups are now accessible. This Perspective covers the most recent literature (since Jan 2017) to highlight the emerging research trends.

The behavior of ubiquitously used nickel, palladium, and platinum complexes containing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands was studied in solution in the presence of aliphatic amines. Transformation of M(NHC)X ₂L complexes readily occurred according to the following reactions: (i) release of the NHC ligand in the form of azolium salt and formation of metal clusters or nanoparticles and (ii) isomerization of mono-NHC complexes M(NHC)X₂L to bis-NHC derivatives M(NHC)₂X₂. Facile cleavage of the M–NHC bond was observed and provided the possibility for fast release of catalytically active NHC-free metal species. Bis-NHC metal complexes M(NHC)2X2were found to be significantly more stable and represented a molecular reservoir of catalytically active species. Slow decomposition of the bis-NHC complexes by removal of the NHC ligands (also in the form of azolium salts) occurred, generating metal clusters or nanoparticles. The observed combination of dual fast- and slow-release channels is an intrinsic latent opportunity of M/NHC complexes, which balances the activity and durability of a catalytic system. The fast release of catalytically active species from M(NHC)X₂L complexes can rapidly initiate catalytic transformation, while the slow release of catalytically active species from M(NHC)₂X₂ complexes can compensate for degradation of catalytically active species and help to maintain a reliable amount of catalyst. The study clearly shows an outstanding potential of dynamic catalytic systems, where the key roles are played by the lability of the M–NHC framework rather than its stability.

A facile direct deposition approach for the preparation of recyclable Pd/C catalysts simply by stirring a solution of Pd ₂dba₃ with a suitable carbon material was evaluated. An extraordinary rapid catalyst preparation procedure (< 5 min) under mild conditions and its excellent performance in cross-coupling and hydrogenation reactions were demonstrated. The key point for catalyst design was to directly deposit Pd(0) centers onto highly accessible surface area and to avoid ill-defined Pd(II)/Pd(0) states.

Oxidative addition of organic halides (R–X) to (NHC)Pd ⁰L complexes is involved in numerous metal-catalyzed reactions, and this step is expected to afford (NHC)Pd^II(R)(X)L intermediate complexes. However, these complexes may undergo further transformation via R–NHC coupling, which removes the NHC ligands from the metal and results in the generation of "bare" NHC-free metal species. The comparative theoretical study carried out in the present work revealed that the kinetic and thermodynamic stability of the (NHC)Pd^II(R)(X)L oxidative addition intermediates depends strongly on the nature of the organic group R. The predicted reactivity in the R–NHC coupling process decreases in the following order: R = Vinyl > Ethynyl > Ph > Me. Accordingly, for R = Me, a classical (NHC)Pd^II(R)(X)L intermediate can be expected as a product of the oxidative addition step, whereas for R = Ph, the outcome of the oxidative addition may already contain the NHC-free palladium complex. For R = Ethynyl, comparable amounts of both complexes should be formed, while for R = Vinyl, the NHC-free palladium complex can be the major product of the oxidative addition process. Unusual thermodynamic and kinetic instability of the (NHC)Pd(vinyl)(X)L complex and the tendency to vinyl–NHC coupling predicted by the computational modeling has been confirmed by experimental measurements with online mass spectrometric reaction monitoring. Thus, the outcome of the oxidative addition strongly depends on the type of organic group R and the R–NHC coupling process greatly influences the activity and stability of metal catalysts.

A thermally induced cascade process leading to the formation of stable micro- and nanometer-size phosphoric droplets was developed starting from a molecular precursor. Microwave-induced pyrolysis of 1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenylphosphole oxide proceeded through a series of subsequent transformations involving formation of phosphorus-doped graphene oxide layers, seeding of carbon surface with phosphorus centers, and assembling of stable droplets. A complex nanostructured organization of the material was established in a remarkably short time of 3 min, and the process was performed in a thermally induced manner using microwave irradiation. High stability of the liquid phosphoric structures on the surface of doped graphene oxide over a few-month period was demonstrated, as well as under challenging conditions in organic solvents (chloroform, methylene chloride, or toluene media) and even under sonication. Detailed examination of this material by electron microscopy and a number of analytical methods showed its unique organization at the nanoscale, whereas computational modeling revealed unusually strong binding of phosphorus oxide P ₄O₁₀ to the graphene surface. The study demonstrates a fascinating opportunity to access a complex nanostructured multicomponent material from a single and easily available molecular precursor.

Storage and handling of toxic wastes is a top-priority challenge for sustainable development and public health. In recent years, the risk of irreversible environmental pollution has been increasing gradually, necessitating the development of new concepts in this highly demanding area. Here, we report a flexible approach to address the problem using tunable ionic liquids as a carrier and storage medium for chemicals. Encapsulation in microscale tunable media surrounded by an inert ionic liquid facilitates the efficient capture of chemicals. The adaptive character of the designed microscale compartments opens new possibilities for the waste management of chemicals of a diverse nature. Real-time field-emission scanning electron microscopy was used to visualize the formation of microscale compartments upon the sequestration of chemicals in ionic liquids. Ionic liquids captured the chemicals better than traditional organic solvents or water; moreover, the chemicals subsequently could be effectively extracted for destruction or utilization. Our work presents a new model for the sustainable management of chemical wastes; the concept was evaluated for a number of multiton chemicals currently affecting our environment.

For the first time, extraction process in ionic liquids was visualized by direct electron microscopy observation. Microscopy images revealed the micro-heterogeneous nature of the studied extraction systems. Depending on the nature of ionic liquids and studied compounds, four main micro-scale areas were observed: a) uniform homogeneous phase; b) microcompartments in the liquid phase; c) solid microinclusions on the phase boundary; and d) solid microinclusions inside the separated microphases. The microscopic monitoring showed stepwise sequence of the extraction process, and the retention ability of the ionic liquid–water system decreased in the following order: homogeneous phase > microcompartments > solid microinclusions.

In recent years, research on ions and ionic interactions in solution has become a leading scientific direction, and this advance has been especially pronounced in the field of ionic liquids, particularly coupled with the studies on their toxicity and biological activity. The focus of these studies has clearly shifted from environmental dangers to feasible applications of these unique substances in biotechnology and pharmacy. In this review, we address the rapidly developing area of ionic liquid-related research and discuss the most recent studies to emphasize the state-of-the-art tendencies. Fundamental research on ionic species in the liquid phase drives new conceptual development of ionic drugs and pharmaceutical substances. Mechanistic knowledge on ionic interactions in aqueous media stimulates the appearance of innovative projects in medicine and biochemistry.

Recent progress in the leading synthetic applications of acetylene is discussed from the prospect of rapid development and novel opportunities. A diversity of reactions involving the acetylene molecule to carry out vinylation processes, cross-coupling reactions, synthesis of substituted alkynes, preparation of heterocycles and the construction of a number of functionalized molecules with different levels of molecular complexity were recently studied. Of particular importance is the utilization of acetylene in the synthesis of pharmaceutical substances and drugs. The increasing interest in acetylene and its involvement in organic transformations highlights a fascinating renaissance of this simplest alkyne molecule.

A novel synthetic methodology for the preparation of 1,3-disubstituted pyrazoles from in situgenerated nitrile imines and acetylene is reported. The reactions are performed in a simple two-chamber reactor. One part of the reactor is loaded with hydrazonoyl chloride precursors of active nitrile imine species and a base. The other part is used to generate acetylene from CaC2 and water. Partitioning of the reactants improves the yields of desired pyrazoles up to 99% and simplifies their isolation to a simple procedure of solvent evaporation. The approach requires no complex equipment and utilizes inexpensive, safe, and easy to handle calcium carbide as a starting material. A model deuterium incorporation is carried out according to the developed methodology, producing a series of novel 4,5-dideuteropyrazoles with excellent deuterium enrichment. Theoretical calculations on reaction mechanism and characterization of possible intermediate structures were performed.

In this work, a novel synthetic methodology for the one-pot preparation of isoxazoles directly from the reaction of calcium carbide with aldoximes is reported. Calcium carbide acts as a safe and inexpensive acetylene source and, in addition, as a source of the Ca(OH)2 base to enable the generation of nitrile oxide. Various 3-substituted isoxazoles were synthesized from the corresponding aldoximes in good yields (up to 95%) and a series of new deuterated 4,5-dideuteroisoxazoles were prepared.

We developed a simple and efficient strategy to access N-vinyl secondary amines of various naturally occurring materials using readily available solid acetylene reagents (calcium carbide, KF, and KOH). Pyrrole, pyrazole, indoles, carbazoles, and diarylamines were successfully vinylated in good yields. Cross-linked and linear polymers were synthesized from N-vinyl carbazoles through free radical and cationic polymerization. Post-modification of olanzapine (an antipsychotic drug substance) was successfully performed.

Additive manufacturing with fused deposition modeling (FDM) is currently optimized for a wide range of research and commercial applications. The major disadvantage of FDM-created products is their low quality and structural defects (porosity), which impose an obstacle to utilizing them in functional prototyping and direct digital manufacturing of objects intended to contact with gases and liquids. This article describes a simple and efficient approach for assessing the quality of 3D printed objects. Using this approach it was shown that the wall permeability of a printed object depends on its geometric shape and is gradually reduced in a following series: cylinder > cube > pyramid > sphere > cone. Filament feed rate, wall geometry and G-code-defined wall structure were found as primary parameters that influence the quality of 3D-printed products. Optimization of these parameters led to an overall increase in quality and improvement of sealing properties. It was demonstrated that high quality of 3D printed objects can be achieved using routinely available printers and standard filaments.

We demonstrate the utility of 100% biomass-derived poly(ethylene-2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF) as an efficient material for Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing. A complete cycle from cellulose to printed object has been performed. PEF-printed objects created in the present study demonstrated higher chemical resistance than objects printed with commonly available materials (ABS, PLA, PETG). The studied PEF polymer has shown key advantages for 3D printing: optimal adhesion, thermoplasticity, lack of delamination and low heat shrinkage. The high thermal stability of PEF and relatively low temperature that are necessary for extrusion are optimal for recycling printed objects and minimizing waste. Several successive cycles of 3D-printing and recycling were successfully demonstrated. The suggested approach for extending additive manufacturing to carbon neutral materials opens a new direction in the field of sustainable development.

In the present review, we consider the transformations of molecular catalysts, leaching, aggregation and various interconversions of metal complexes, clusters and nanoparticles that occur during catalytic processes. The role of catalyst evolution and the mechanistic picture of "cocktail"-type systems are considered from the perspective of the development of a new generation of efficient, selective and re-usable catalysts for synthetic applications. Rational catalyst development and the improvement of catalyst performance cannot be achieved without an understanding of the dynamic nature of catalytic systems.

Ionic liquids are remarkable chemical compounds, which find applications in many areas of modern science. Because of their highly tunable nature and exceptional properties, ionic liquids have become essential players in the fields of synthesis and catalysis, extraction, electrochemistry, analytics, biotechnology, etc. Apart from physical and chemical features of ionic liquids, their high biological activity has been attracting significant attention from biochemists, ecologists, and medical scientists. This Review is dedicated to biological activities of ionic liquids, with a special emphasis on their potential employment in pharmaceutics and medicine. The accumulated data on the biological activity of ionic liquids, including their antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties, are discussed in view of possible applications in drug synthesis and drug delivery systems. Dedicated attention is given to a novel active pharmaceutical ingredient-ionic liquid (API-IL) concept, which suggests using traditional drugs in the form of ionic liquid species. The main aim of this Review is to attract a broad audience of chemical, biological, and medical scientists to study advantages of ionic liquid pharmaceutics. Overall, the discussed data highlight the importance of the research direction defined as "Ioliomics", studies of ions in liquids in modern chemistry, biology, and medicine.

The direct vinylation of an OH group in alcohols and phenols was carried out utilizing a novel CaC 2/KF solid acetylene reagent in a simple K2CO3/KOH/DMSO system. The functionalization of a series of hydroxyl-group-containing substrates and the post-modification of biologically active molecules were successfully performed using standard laboratory equipment, providing straightforward access to the corresponding vinyl ethers. The overall process developed involves an atom-economical addition reaction employing only inorganic reagents, which significantly simplifies the reaction set-up and the isolation of products. A mechanistic study revealed a dual role of the F− additive, which both mediates the surface etching/renewal of the calcium carbide particles and activates the CC bond towards the addition reaction. The development of the fluoride-mediated nucleophilic addition of alcohols eliminates the need for strong bases and may substantially extend the areas of application of this attractive synthetic methodology due to increasing functional group tolerance. As a replacement for dangerous and difficult to handle high-pressure acetylene, we propose the solid reagent CaC2/KF, which is easy to handle, does not require dedicated laboratory equipment and demonstrates enhanced reactivity of the acetylenic triple bond. Theoretical calculations have shown that fluoride-mediated activation of the hydroxyl group towards nucleophilic addition significantly reduces the activation barrier and facilitates the reaction.

The first synthesis of tricyclic compounds from biobased 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is described. The Diels-Alder reaction was used to implement the transition from HMF to non-planar framework, which possessed the structural cores of naturally occurring biologically active compounds and building blocks of advanced materials. A one-pot, three-step sustainable synthesis in water was developed starting directly from HMF. The reduction of HMF led to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF), which could be readily involved in the Diels-Alder cycloaddition reaction with HMF-derived maleimide, followed by hydrogenation of the double bond. The described transformation was diastereoselective and proceeded with a good overall yield. The applicability of the chosen approach for the synthesis of analogous structures containing amine functionality on the side chain was demonstrated. To produce the target compounds, only platform chemicals were used with carbohydrate biomass as the single carbon source.

Metal on carbon catalysts (M/C) are ubiquitously used in modern research and industry to carry out a variety of chemical transformations. Stable metal-support frameworks and inertness of the carbon materials are usually taken for granted in these very useful catalytic systems. Initially, the present study was aimed to increase the efficiency of Pd/C and Pt/C catalytic systems under microwave and conventional heating. Interestingly, a dynamic behavior of the metal nanoparticles was revealed, and a series of carbon support transformations occurred during the thermal treatments of the catalysts. Microwave and thermal heating of the M/C catalysts resulted in substantial transformations of the carbon supports via the formation of pits, trenches, nanofibers and nanowalls. Detailed studies with field-emission scanning electron microscopy was carried out involving statistical averaging over large surface areas. The effects of the dynamic behaviors of the supported metal particles on the catalytic activities of the synthetically useful Mizoroki-Heck and Suzuki-Miyaura reactions were demonstrated. Revealed dynamic behavior and modification of the carbon support due to microwave treatment were observed in a number of M/C systems (M = Pd, Pt, Ni, Co, Сu, Fe and Au).

Metal complexes bearing N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands are typically considered the system of choice for homogeneous catalysis with well-defined molecular active species due to their stable metal–ligand framework. A detailed study involving 19 different Pd-NHC complexes with imidazolium, benzimidazolium, and triazolium ligands has been carried out in the present work and revealed a new mode of operation of metal-NHC systems. The catalytic activity of the studied Pd-NHC systems is predominantly determined by the cleavage of the metal–NHC bond, while the catalyst performance is strongly affected by the stabilization of in situ formed metal clusters. In the present study, the formation of Pd nanoparticles was observed from a broad range of metal complexes with NHC ligands under standard Mizoroki–Heck reaction conditions. A mechanistic analysis revealed two different pathways to connect Pd-NHC complexes to "cocktail"-type catalysis: (i) reductive elimination from a Pd(II) intermediate and the release of NHC-containing byproducts and (ii) dissociation of NHC ligands from Pd intermediates. Metal-NHC systems are ubiquitously applied in modern organic synthesis and catalysis, while the new mode of operation revealed in the present study guides catalyst design and opens a variety of novel opportunities. As shown by experimental studies and theoretical calculations, metal clusters and nanoparticles can be readily formed from M-NHC complexes after formation of new M–C or M–H bonds followed by C–NHC or H–NHC coupling. Thus, a combination of a classical molecular mode of operation and a novel cocktail-type mode of operation, described in the present study, may be anticipated as an intrinsic feature of M-NHC catalytic systems.

Organometallic reagents and metal catalysts are used ubiquitously in academia and industry. Not surprisingly, the biological activity and environmental danger of metal compounds have become topics of outstanding importance. In spite of the rapid development of toxicology during the last decades, several common historically established "beliefs" are still frequently circulating in the organometallic community. In this Tutorial, we discuss existing opinions concerning (1) possibilities of toxicity measurements, (2) high toxicities of heavy-metal compounds, (3) correlation between the structure of a metal compound and its toxicity, (4) biological effect of direct/indirect contacts with metal compounds, and (5) dangers of metal nanoparticles. Basic concepts of toxicity studies and known data are described in the Tutorial step by step upon discussion of these issues. The main goal of this Tutorial is to demonstrate that the toxicity of a metal cannot be regarded as a constant property, since it depends on the oxidation state, ligands, solubility, morphology of particles, properties of the environment, and several other factors. As far as such chemically labile species as metal compounds are concerned, the nature of biological effects should not be assumed or taken for granted; indeed, reliable conclusions cannot be made without dedicated measurements.

A novel mitoxantrone conjugate was synthesized by coupling mitoxantrone with ionic liquid tags, and cytotoxic behavior of the designed conjugate was studied in normal and cancer cell lines. The synthesized mitoxantrone conjugate was oil at physiological temperatures and demonstrated high aqueous solubility. Sensitivity of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to the mitoxantrone conjugate was improved by an order of magnitude, in comparison with original mitoxantrone dihydrochloride. The observed ESI-MS signals were shifted to a "clearer" lower-mass region of the spectrum, which allowed investigation of the drug at the level of individual cells. The ionic liquid tags proposed in the present work consist of an easily available imidazolium salt residue and show a number of key advantages from the points of view of drug conjugate synthesis, drug delivery and analytic detection.

The direct utilization of a natural feedstock in organic synthesis is an utmost challenge because the selective production of one product from a mixture of starting materials requires unprecedented substrate selectivity. In the present study, a simple and convenient procedure is evaluated for the substrate-selective alkenylation of a single component in a mixture of organosulfur compounds. Pd-catalyzed alkenylation of two-, three-, four-, and five-component mixtures of crude oil-derived sulfur species led to the exclusive C−H functionalization of only one compound. The observed remarkable substrate selectivity opens new opportunities for sustainable organic synthesis.

Acetylene-functionalized platform chemicals were synthesized for the first time based on biomass-derived 5-hydrohymethylfurfural (HMF). Demanded mono- and bis-ethynylfurans were obtained in high yields (89-99%). Plausible application of these products in the synthesis of smart organic conjugated materials and pharmaceuticals was addressed in a series of transformations. Conjugated polyacetylenic polymers with morphology control have been prepared with the incorporation of the HMF core.

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is an important versatile reagent, a so-called platform chemical, that can be produced from plant biomass compounds: hexose carbohydrates and lignocellulose. In the near future, HMF and its derivatives could become an alternative feedstock for the chemical industry and replace, to a great extent, non-renewable sources of hydrocarbons (oil, natural gas and coal). This review analyzes recent advances in the synthesis of HMF from plant feedstocks and considers the prospects for the use of HMF in the production of monomers and polymers, porous carbon materials, engine fuels, solvents, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and chemicals. The most important HMF derivatives considered in the review include 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, 2,5-diformylfuran, 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan, 2,5-bis(aminomethyl)furan, 2,5-dimethylfuran, 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran, 2,5-bis(methoxymethyl)furan, and 5-ethoxymethylfurfural. In the nearest future, a significant extension of the HMF application is expected, and this platform chemical may be considered a major source of carbon and hydrogen for the chemistry of the 21st century.

Environmental profiles for the selected metals were compiled on the basis of available data on their biological activities. Analysis of the profiles suggests that the concept of toxic heavy metals and safe nontoxic alternatives based on lighter metals should be re-evaluated. Comparison of the toxicological data indicates that palladium, platinum, and gold compounds, often considered heavy and toxic, may in fact be not so dangerous, whereas complexes of nickel and copper, typically assumed to be green and sustainable alternatives, may possess significant toxicities, which is also greatly affected by the solubility in water and biological fluids. It appears that the development of new catalysts and novel applications should not rely on the existing assumptions concerning toxicity/nontoxicity. Overall, the available experimental data seem insufficient for accurate evaluation of biological activity of these metals and its modulation by the ligands. Without dedicated experimental measurements for particular metal/ligand frameworks, toxicity should not be used as a "selling point" when describing new catalysts.

Spectral studies revealed the presence of a specific arrangement of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) molecules in solution as a result of a hydrogen–bonding network, and this arrangement readily facilitates the aging of 5-HMF. Deterioration of the quality of this platform chemical limits its practical applications, especially in synthesis/pharma areas. The model drug Ranitidine (Zantac®) was synthesized with only 15 % yield starting from 5-HMF which was isolated and stored as an oil after a biomass conversion process. In contrast, a much higher yield of 65 % was obtained by using 5-HMF isolated in crystalline state from an optimized biomass conversion process. The molecular mechanisms responsible for 5-HMF decomposition in solution were established by NMR and ESI-MS studies. A highly selective synthesis of a 5-HMF derivative from glucose was achieved using a protecting group at O(6) position.

Water-containing organic solutions are widespread reaction media in organic synthesis and catalysis. This type of liquid multicomponent system has a number of unique properties due to the tendency for water to self-organize in mixtures with other liquids. In spite of key importance, the characterization of these water domains is a challenging task due to their soft and dynamic nature. In the present study, morphology and dynamics of μm-scale and nm-scale water-containing compartments in ionic liquids were directly observed by electron microscopy. A variety of morphologies, including isolated droplets, dense structures, aggregates and 2D meshwork, have been experimentally detected and studied. Using the developed method, the impact of water on the acid‑catalyzed biomass conversion reaction was studied at the microscopic level. The process that produced nanostructured domains in solution led to better yields and higher selectivities compared with reactions involving the bulk system.

The carbon-sulfur bond formation reaction is of paramount importance for functionalized materials design, as well as for biochemical applications. The use of expensive metal-based catalysts and the consequent contamination with trace metal impurities are challenging drawbacks of the existing methodologies. Here, we describe the first environmentally friendly metal-free photoredox pathway to the thiol–yne click reaction. Using Eosin Y as a cheap and readily available catalyst, C-S coupling products were obtained in high yields (up to 91%) and excellent selectivity (up to 60:1). A 3D-printed photoreactor was developed to create arrays of parallel reactions with temperature stabilization to improve the performance of the catalytic system.

Copper-oxide-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction is a well-known strategy in heterogeneous catalysis. A large number of applications have been developed, and catalytic cycles have been proposed based on the involvement of the copper oxide surface. In the present work, we have demonstrated that copper(I) and copper(II) oxides served as precursors in the coupling reaction between thiols and aryl halides, while catalytically active species were formed upon unusual leaching from the oxide surface. A powerful cryo-SEM technique has been utilized to characterize the solution-state catalytic system by electron microscopy. A series of different experimental methods were used to reveal the key role of copper thiolate intermediates in the studied catalytic reaction. The present study shows an example of leaching from a metal oxide surface, where the leaching process involved the formation of a metal thiolate and the release of water. A new synthetic approach was developed, and many functionalized sulfides were synthesized with yields of up to 96%, using the copper thiolate catalyst. The study suggests that metal oxides may not act as an innocent material under reaction conditions; rather, they may represent a source of reactive species for solution-state homogeneous catalysis.

A biomass-derived platform chemical was utilized to access a demanded pharmaceutical substance with anti-HIV activity (HIV, human immunodeficiency virus) and a variety of structural analogues. Step economy in the synthesis of the drug core (single stage from cellulose) is studied including flexible variability of four structural units. The first synthesis and X-ray structure of the inhibitor of HIV-1 capsid protein assembly (CAP-1) is described.

Chemical reactions involving high-pressure acetylene are not easily performed in a standard laboratory setup. The risk of explosion and technical difficulties drastically complicate the equipment and greatly increase the cost. In this study, we propose the replacement of acetylene with calcium carbide, which was successfully utilized to synthesize practically useful vinyl thioesters in accordance with a simple and environmentally benign procedure. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions using a standard laboratory setup. The optimized reaction conditions allowed the selective synthesis of the vinyl thioesters in high yields, and the reaction conditions can be scaled up to synthesize grams of sulfides from inexpensive starting materials.

Acetylene, HC≡CH, is one of the primary building blocks in synthetic organic and industrial chemistry. Several highly valuable processes have been developed based on this simplest alkyne and the development of acetylene chemistry has had a paramount impact on chemical science over the last few decades. However, in spite of numerous useful possible reactions, the application of gaseous acetylene in everyday research practice is rather limited. Moreover, the practical implementation of high-pressure acetylene chemistry can be very challenging, owing to the risk of explosion and the requirement for complex equipment; special safety precautions need to be taken to store and handle acetylene under high pressure, which limit its routine use in a standard laboratory setup. Amazingly, recent studies have revealed that calcium carbide, CaC2, can be used as an easy-to-handle and efficient source of acetylene for in situ chemical transformations. Thus, calcium carbide is a stable and inexpensive acetylene precursor that is available on the ton scale and it can be handled with standard laboratory equipment. The application of calcium carbide in organic synthesis will bring a new dimension to the powerful acetylene chemistry.

Graphene can efficiently shield chemical interactions and gradually decrease the binding to reactive defect areas. In the present study, we have used the observed graphene shielding effect to control the reactivity patterns on the carbon surface. The experimental findings show that a surface coating with a tiny carbon layer of 1–2 nm thickness is sufficient to shield the defect-mediated reactivity and create a surface with uniform binding ability. The shielding effect was directly observed using a combination of microscopy techniques and evaluated with computational modeling. The theoretical calculations indicate that a few graphene layers can drastically reduce the binding energy of the metal centers to the surface defects by 40–50 kcal mol ⁻¹. The construction of large carbon areas with controlled surface reactivity is extremely difficult, which is a key limitation in many practical applications. Indeed, the developed approach provides a flexible and simple tool to change the reactivity patterns on large surface areas within a few minutes.

Editorial introduction to the Special Issue. The smaller, the better: Catalysis takes many forms and has a vast number of applications. Be it heterogeneous or homogeneous, organic, transition-metal or biocatalysis, the many facets of the discipline enable efficient synthetic routes and open up new avenues to previously inaccessible compounds. This special issue is about the catalysis and transformation of complex molecules.

The current level of scientific and technological development requires the formation of general tools and techniques. One of the most versatile technologies is 3D printing, which allows fast and efficient creation of materials and biological objects of desired shape and composition. Today, methods have been developed for 3D printing of macro- and nano-sized objects and for production of films and deposited materials with molecular precision but the most promising technology is printing at the molecular level (molecular 3D printing) for the purpose of direct construction of molecular complexity. This process is currently at the initial stage concerning selection of simple molecules to be used as building blocks possessing flexibility, availability and ease of modification. In this review, we examine the possible versatile synthons suitable for preparation of the main types of organic compounds using molecular 3D printing. The surveyed data strongly indicate that alkyne molecules may be used as a building material in a molecular 3D printer working on hydrocarbons.

A new method was developed for the selective gram-scale synthesis of 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF), which is an important chemical with a high application potential, via oxidation of biomass-derived 5-hydroxylmethylfurfural (HMF) catalyzed by 4-acetylamino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (4-AcNH-TEMPO) in a two-phase system consisting of a methylene chloride and aqueous solution containing sodium hydrogen carbonate and potassium iodide. The key feature of this method is the generation of the I2 (co-)oxidant by anodic oxidation of iodide anions during pulse electrolysis. In addition, the electrolyte can be successfully recycled five times while maintaining a 62-65% yield of DFF. This novel method provides sustainable pathway for waste-free production of DFF without the use of metal catalysts and expensive oxidants. An advantage of electrooxidation is utilized in the preparation of demanding chemical.

Traceless transition metal catalysis (Pd, Ni, Cu, etc.) is very difficult to achieve. Metal contamination in the synthesized products is unavoidable and the most important questions are: How to control metal impurities? What amount of metal impurities can be tolerated? What is the influence of metal impurities? In this brief review, the plausible origins of nanoparticle contamination are discussed in the framework of catalytic synthesis of organic electronic materials. Key factors responsible for increasing the probability of contamination are considered from the point of view of catalytic reaction mechanisms. The purity of the catalyst may greatly affect the molecular weight of a polymer, reaction yield, selectivity and several other parameters. Metal contamination in the final polymeric products may induce some changes in the electric conductivity, charge transport properties, photovoltaic performance and other important parameters.

The possibility of rapid manufacturing of customized chemical labware and reactionware by three-dimensional (3D) printing is discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of this approach to the design of chemical equipment from different engineering plastics were demonstrated and the suitability of some materials for chemical applications was estimated: PP > PLA > > ABS > PETG (PP is polypropylene, PLA is polylactide, ABS is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and PETG is polyethylene terephthalate glycol). The procedure described is a powerful tool for the production of both typical and unique chemical labware; to date, the fused deposition modeling (FDM) method is already available for the everyday use in chemical laboratories. The examples of successful application of 3D-printed products were demonstrated: solvent resistance and impermeability were assessed, as well as Pd(OAc)₂-catalyzed cross-coupling between p-bromotoluene and phenylboronic acid and Ni(acac)₂-catalyzed hydrothiolation of alkyne with thiophenol were performed.

Gaining insight into Pd/C catalytic systems aimed at locating reactive centers on carbon surfaces, revealing their properties and estimating the number of reactive centers presents a challenging problem. In the present study state-of-the-art experimental techniques involving ultra high resolution SEM/STEM microscopy (1 Å resolution), high brilliance X-ray absorption spectroscopy and theoretical calculations on truly nanoscale systems were utilized to reveal the role of carbon centers in the formation and nature of Pd/C catalytic materials. Generation of Pd clusters in solution from the easily available Pd ₂dba₃ precursor and the unique reactivity of the Pd clusters opened an excellent opportunity to develop an efficient procedure for the imaging of a carbon surface. Defect sites and reactivity centers of a carbon surface were mapped in three-dimensional space with high resolution and excellent contrast using a user-friendly nanoscale imaging procedure. The proposed imaging approach takes advantage of the specific interactions of reactive carbon centers with Pd clusters, which allows spatial information about chemical reactivity across the Pd/C system to be obtained using a microscopy technique. Mapping the reactivity centers with Pd markers provided unique information about the reactivity of the graphene layers and showed that >2000 reactive centers can be located per 1 μm² of the surface area of the carbon material. A computational study at a PBE-D3-GPW level differentiated the relative affinity of the Pd₂ species to the reactive centers of graphene. These findings emphasized the spatial complexity of the carbon material at the nanoscale and indicated the importance of the surface defect nature, which exhibited substantial gradients and variations across the surface area. The findings show the crucial role of the structure of the carbon support, which governs the formation of Pd/C systems and their catalytic activity.

In recent years, the emergence of nickel catalysis and the development of many remarkable synthetic applications have been observed. The key advantages of nickel catalysts include: a) efficient catalysis and the ability to initiate transformations involving usually unreactive substrates; b) the accessibility of Ni⁰/Ni^I/Ni^II/Ni^III oxidation states and radical pathways; c) new reactivity patterns beyond the traditional framework of metal catalysts; d) the facile activation of unsaturated molecules and a variety of transformations involving multiple bonds; and e) opportunities in photocatalytic applications and dual photocatalysis. The present viewpoint briefly summarizes the fundamental aspects of nickel chemistry and highlights promising directions of catalyst development.

Vinyl sulfides represent an important class of compounds in organic chemistry and materials science. Atom-economic addition of thiols to the triple bond of alkynes provides an excellent opportunity for environmentally friendly processes. We have found that well-known and readily available Pd-NHC complex (IMes)Pd(acac)Cl is an efficient catalyst for alkyne hydrothiolation. The reported technique provides a general one-pot approach for the selective preparation of Markovnikov-type vinyl sulfides starting from tertiary, secondary, or primary aliphatic thiols, as well as benzylic and aromatic thiols. In all the studied cases, the products were formed in excellent selectivity and good yields.

Three different types of drug delivery platforms based on imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) were synthesized in high preparative yields, namely, the models involving (i) ionic binding of drug and IL; (ii) covalent binding of drug and IL; and (iii) dual binding using both ionic and covalent approaches. Seven ionic liquids containing salicylic acid (SA-ILs) in the cation or/and in the anion were prepared, and their cytotoxicity toward the human cell lines CaCo-2 (colorectal adenocarcinoma) and 3215 LS (normal fibroblasts) was evaluated. Cytotoxicity of SA-ILs was significantly higher than that of conventional imidazolium-based ILs and was comparable to the pure salicylic acid. It is important to note that the obtained SA-ILs dissolved in water more readily than salicylic acid, suggesting benefits of possible usage of traditional nonsoluble active pharmaceutical ingredients in an ionic liquid form.

Functionalization of ionic liquids (ILs) with natural amino acids is usually considered as a convenient approach to decrease their toxicity and find new areas of chemical application as sustainable solvents, reagents or catalysts. In the present study, the cytotoxicity of several amino acid-containing ionic liquids (AAILs) with amino acid-based cations and anions was studied towards NIH/3T3 and CaCo-2 cell cultures and compared with the toxicity of conventional imidazolium-based ILs. The presence of an amino acid in the anion did not lead to a significant decrease in toxicity, whereas in the cation it unexpectedly increased the toxicity, as compared with conventional ILs. Exposure to 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium glycinate induced apoptosis in NIH/3T3 cells. The present study gives new insights into biological effects of AAILs and shows that an amino acid residue may make ILs more biologically active. Special attention should be paid to the plausible synergetic effect of a combination of ILs with natural biologically active molecules. The results suggest possible medical application of AAILs rather than involvement as a green and sustainable tool to carry out chemical reactions.

The extraction of peptides was studied in a two-phase ionic liquid (IL)/organic solvent system, which displayed outstanding chain length sensitivity (dipeptide vs tripeptide) and separation ability, even for structurally similar peptides (divaline vs dialanine). The extraction process could be performed under substoichiometric conditions; an IL-to-peptide ratio as low as 3:1 led to a high extraction selectivity of divaline/dialanine = 6. For practical applications, two systems were developed for the extraction of peptides from ILs under heterogeneous and homogeneous conditions, with selectivities of 6 and 3.5, respectively. The developed system has shown excellent recycling properties and was reused several times without any visible changes in the selectivity and extraction efficiency. A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment with molecular-level spatial resolution was successfully performed to study the mechanism of the extraction process and to visualize the two-phase system.

Combined experimental and theoretical studies revealed a complex mechanistic picture in which the carboxylic group-assisted proton transfer from acetic acid to an alkyne molecule is the key step in the unique gold-mediated alkyne transformation that leads to the formation of gem-disubstituted vinyl gold complexes. The structures of the complexes were unambiguously established using NMR spectroscopy (in solution) and X-ray diffraction (in the solid state). ESI-MS study of the reaction mixture revealed multiple gold-containing complexes and clusters. Investigation of the MS² fragmentation patterns of the selected ions suggested the involvement of gold acetylides in the transformation. Further treatment of the complexes with protic acid led to the discovery of a novel route for the gold-mediated alkyne hydrothiolation.

Metal complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHC) are ubiquitously used in catalysis, where the stability of the metal–ligand framework is a key issue. Our study shows that Ni-NHC complexes may undergo facile decomposition due to the presence of water in organic solvents (hydrolysis). The ability to hydrolyze Ni(NHC)2X2 complexes decreases in the order of NHC = 1,2,4-triazolium > benzimidazolium ≈ imidazolium. Depending on the ligand and substituents, the half reaction time of the complex decomposition may change from several minutes to hours. The nature of the halogen is also an important factor, and the ability for decomposition of the studied complexes decreases in the order of Cl > Br > I. NMR and MS monitoring revealed that Ni-NHC complexes in the presence of water undergo hydrolysis with Ni–Ccarbene bond cleavage, affording the corresponding N,N′-dialkylated azolium salts and nickel(II) hydroxide. These findings are of great importance for designing efficient and recyclable catalytic systems, because trace water is a common contaminant in routine synthetic applications.

Ubiquitous usage of Pd- and Pt-containing nanoparticles in automotive catalytic converters is an important potential threat to the environment. The unavoidable release of transition metal species to the environment and their contact with water give rise to the poisoning of ecosystems by heavy metal compounds. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and the newly-developed fragment partitioning approach show that a variety of metal species may be formed upon contact of metal salts with water. A series of monometallic complexes, homonuclear clusters and heteronuclear clusters of palladium and platinum were detected and characterized. The study has revealed a critical danger of metal contamination due to easy formation of transition metal clusters, which may be much more toxic than corresponding monometallic complexes.

A possible mechanistic pathway related to an enzyme-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition reaction was studied by theoretical calculations at density functional (B3LYP, O3LYP, M062X) and semiempirical levels (PM6-DH2, PM6) performed on a model system. The calculations were carried out for the key [4+2] cycloaddition step considering enzyme-catalyzed biosynthesis of Spinosyn A in a model reaction, where a reliable example of a biological Diels-Alder reaction was reported experimentally. In the present study it was demonstrated that the [4+2] cycloaddition reaction may benefit from moving along the energetically balanced reaction coordinate, which enabled the catalytic rate enhancement of the [4+2] cycloaddition pathway involving a single transition state. Modelling of such a system with coordination of three amino acids indicated a reliable decrease of activation energy by ~18.0 kcal/mol as compared to a non-catalytic transformation.

The design of functional organic and hybrid molecular systems has shown outstanding recent growth and is a high priority in the development of new technologies and novel functional materials. Recent advancements in the chemical sciences have provided fascinating opportunities to access the most complex molecular architectures ever possible so far. Herein, we discuss the principles of the structural organization of recently studied molecular systems, basic approaches for their assembly, and challenging directions for their practical applications.

The necessary prerequisites to carry out efficient NMR/MS studies and the important points required to avoid inconsistent measurements are discussed. A comparative assessment of the sensitivity and accuracy of NMR, EI-MS and ESI-MS measurements was carried out to evaluate typical laboratory research performance. Accurate NMR measurements are possible in the 10 ^–1–10^–3 m concentration range, with spectral studies still being possible at concentrations of approximately 10^–4–10^–5 m. EI-MS is more sensitive and can operate at concentrations of 10^–6 m, while commonly available ESI-MS can be efficient up to a concentration of 10^–18 m.

Microwave irradiation of Ni, Co, Cu, Ag, and Pt metal salts supported on graphite and charcoal revealed a series of carbon surface modification processes that varied depending on the conditions used (inert atmosphere, vacuum, or air) and the nature of metal salt. Carbon materials, routinely used to prepare supported metal catalysts and traditionally considered to be innocent on this stage, were found to actively change under the studied conditions: etching and pitting of the carbon surface by metal particles as well as growth of carbon nanotubes were experimentally observed by FE-SEM analysis. Catalyst preparation under microwave irradiation led to the formation of complex metal/carbon structures with significant changes in carbon morphology. These findings are of great value in developing an understanding of how M/C catalysts form and evolve and will help to design a new generation of efficient and stable catalysts. The energy surfaces of carbon support modification processes were studied with theoretical calculations at the density functional level. The energy surface of the multistage process of carbon nanotube formation from an etched graphene sheet was calculated for various types of carbon centers. These calculations indicated that interconversion of graphene layers and single wall carbon nanotubes is possible when cycloparaphenylene rings act as building units.

Rapid progress in the field of ionic liquids in recent decades led to the development of many outstanding energy-conversion processes, catalytic systems, synthetic procedures, and important practical applications. Task-specific optimization emerged as a sharpening stone for the fine-tuning of structure of ionic liquids, which resulted in unprecedented efficiency at the molecular level. Ionic-liquid systems showed promising opportunities in the development of green and sustainable technologies; however, the chemical nature of ionic liquids is not intrinsically green. Many ionic liquids were found to be toxic or even highly toxic towards cells and living organisms. In this Review, we show that biological activity and cytotoxicity of ionic liquids dramatically depend on the nature of a biological system. An ionic liquid may be not toxic for particular cells or organisms, but may demonstrate high toxicity towards another target present in the environment. Thus, a careful selection of biological activity data is a must for the correct assessment of chemical technologies involving ionic liquids. In addition to the direct biological activity (immediate response), several indirect effects and aftereffects are of primary importance. The following principal factors were revealed to modulate toxicity of ionic liquids: i) length of an alkyl chain in the cation; ii) degree of functionalization in the side chain of the cation; iii) anion nature; iv) cation nature; and v) mutual influence of anion and cation.

A unique nickel-based catalytic system was developed where the direction of the hydrophosphorylation reaction can be controlled by varying the catalyst loading. A flexible one-pot access to vinylmonophosphonates and alkylbisphosphonates was demonstrated using simple starting materials in an atom-economic reaction without any specific solvents or ligands. Monitoring of the reaction mechanism with joint NMR and MS studies revealed key information about the reaction intermediates. The synthetic scope of the developed catalytic system was explored and the utility of the synthesized products for the fire protection of cotton materials was demonstrated.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of the regiodivergent palladium-catalyzed dimerization of terminal alkynes is presented. Employment of N-heterocyclic carbene-based palladium catalyst in the presence of phosphine ligand allows for highly regio- and stereoselective head-to-head dimerization reaction. Alternatively, addition of carboxylate anion to the reaction mixture triggers selective head-to-tail coupling. Computational studies suggest that reaction proceeds via the hydropalladation pathway favoring head-to-head dimerization under neutral reaction conditions. The origin of the regioselectivity switch can be explained by the dual role of carboxylate anion. Thus, the removal of hydrogen atom by the carboxylate directs reaction from the hydropalladation to the carbopalladation pathway. Additionally, in the presence of the carboxylate anion intermediate, palladium complexes involved in the head-to-tail dimerization display higher stability compared to their analogues for the head-to-head reaction.

A unique Ni-catalyzed transformation is reported for the one-pot highly selective synthesis of previously unknown monoseleno-substituted 1,3-dienes starting from easily available terminal alkynes and benzeneselenol. The combination of a readily available catalyst precursor, Ni(acac)₂, and an appropriately tuned phosphine ligand, PPh₂Cy, resulted in the exclusive assembly of the s-gauche diene skeleton via the selective formation of C–C and C–Se bonds. The unusual diene products were stable under regular experimental conditions, and the products maintained the s-gauche geometry both in the solid state and in solution, as confirmed by X-ray analysis and NMR spectroscopy. Thorough mechanistic studies using ESI-MS revealed the key Ni-containing species involved in the reaction.

An NMR study of 10 l-alanine- and l-valine-containing peptides was carried out in the native [C₂MIM][Cl], [C₄MIM][Cl], [C₆MIM][Cl], [C₄MIM][BF₄], [C₄MIM][PF₆], and [C₄Py][BF₄] ionic liquid media. A unique high sensitivity of the ionic liquid system to the nature of peptide and ability to tune solvent–solute interactions were observed in contrast to regular organic solvents. The l-valine peptides can be selectively dissolved in [C₄MIM][Cl] and [C₆MIM][Cl], whereas their solubility in [C₂MIM][Cl] and other ionic liquids was dramatically lower. In spite of structural similarity between the amino acids, a distinct behavior was observed for the l-alanine peptides. Solvent–solute interactions with an ionic liquid impose significant changes, and NMR spectroscopy is a useful probe for the molecular-level and nanoscale organization of the studied systems. An even/odd effect of the number of amino acids in the peptide on molecular interactions in ionic liquids was observed. Enhancement of chemical properties of peptides in ionic liquids and application of ionic liquids in the separation of peptides are the areas of practical interest in the studied systems.

The experimental study of dechlorination activity of a Au/Ag bimetallic system has shown formation of a variety of chlorinated bimetallic Au/Ag clusters with well-defined Au:Ag ratios from 1:1 to 4:1. It is the formation of the Au/Ag cluster species that mediated C–Cl bond breakage, since neither Au nor Ag species alone exhibited a comparable activity. The nature of the products and the mechanism of dechlorination were investigated by ESI-MS, GC-MS, NMR, and quantum chemical calculations at the M06/6-311G(d)&SDD level of theory. It was revealed that formation of bimetallic clusters facilitated dechlorination activity due to the thermodynamic factor: C–Cl bond breakage by metal clusters was thermodynamically favored and resulted in the formation of chlorinated bimetallic species. An appropriate Au:Ag ratio for an efficient hydrodechlorination process was determined in a joint experimental and theoretical study carried out in the present work. This mechanistic finding was followed by synthesis of molecular bimetallic clusters, which were successfully involved in the hydrodechlorination of CCl ₄ as a low molecular weight environment pollutant and in the dechlorination of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) as an eco-toxic insecticide. High activity of the designed bimetallic system made it possible to carry out a dechlorination process under mild conditions at room temperature.

Attachment of palladium clusters to carbon surface was investigated by SEM and STEM methods that have suggested plausible modification of chemical interactions across graphene layers; the fact can explain mismatches between domain structures and alignment patterns of palladium nanoparticles observed experimentally by the electron microscopy.

Acetonitrile solutions of nickel(II) acetylacetonate, which is ubiquitously used in different fields of organometallic chemistry and catalysis, were investigated by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The detected Ni₂(acac)₃⁺ ion with the binuclear Ni₂O₂ core underwent a wide range of reactions after collision-induced dissociation, leading to a variety of products. Activation of C–H, C–C, and C–O bonds was observed involving the binuclear nickel complex. In sharp contrast, similar ions involving mononuclear and trinuclear nickel species did not show such exceptional behavior. The findings may open a fascinating direction in the field of superatoms to develop new chemical transformations for organometallic chemistry and catalysis. The higher relative stability of binuclear species was also observed in ESI mass spectra of copper and vanadyl complexes with acetylacetonate ligands, Cu₂(acac)₃⁺ and (VO)₂(acac)₃⁺. An important point concerns the purity of the studied solutions, since even a trace level of contaminants has drastically diminished the outcome of the mechanistic studies.

Soluble gold precatalysts, aimed for homogeneous catalysis, under certain conditions may form nanoparticles, which dramatically change the mechanism and initiate different chemistry. The present study addresses the question of designing gold catalysts, taking into account possible interconversions and contamination at the homogeneous/heterogeneous system's interface. It was revealed that accurate localization of boundary experimental conditions for formation of molecular gold complexes in solution versus nucleation and growth of gold particles opens new opportunities for well-known gold chemistry. Within the developed concept, a series of practical procedures was created for efficient synthesis of soluble gold complexes with various phosphine ligands (R₃P)AuCl (90–99% yield) and for preparation of different types of gold materials. The effect of the ligand on the particles growth in solution has been observed and characterized with high-resolution field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) study. Two unique types of nanostructured gold materials were prepared: hierarchical agglomerates and gold mirror composed of ultrafine smoothly shaped particles.

In situ generated catalysts and preformed catalysts are two practical strategies widely used in cross-coupling methodology that have long been considered to involve the same active species in the catalytic cycle. Recent mechanistic studies have revealed two fundamentally different pictures of catalytic reactions in solution. Preformed catalysts with strongly bound ligands initiate transformations mainly involving single type of metal species. In contrast, in situ generated catalysts give rise to cocktail-type systems with different metal species presented in solution. The role of catalyst precursor, interconversions of catalytic species during reaction, stability and recycling of catalyst, catalysis by autocatalyst exhaust and plausible sources of metal-containing contaminants are the key points discussed in this review.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of selenium have emerged into a rapidly developing field of nanotechnology with several promising opportunities in materials chemistry and catalysis. Comparison between sulfur-based self-assembled monolayers and newly developed selenium-based monolayers reveal outstanding complimentary features on surface chemistry and highlighted the key role of the headgroup element. Diverse structural properties and reactivity of organosulfur and organoselenium groups on the surface provide flexible frameworks to create new generations of materials and adaptive catalysts with unprecedented selectivity. Important practical utility of adaptive catalytic systems deals with development of sustainable technologies and industrial processes based on natural resources. Independent development of nanotechnology, materials science and catalysis has led to the discovery of common fundamental principles of the surface chemistry of chalcogen compounds.

All living systems are comprised of four fundamental classes of macromolecules – nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates (glycans). Glycans play a unique role of joining three principal hierarchical levels of the living world: (1) the molecular level (pathogenic agents and vaccine recognition by the immune system, metabolic pathways involving saccharides that provide cells with energy, and energy accumulation via photosynthesis); (2) the nanoscale level (cell membrane mechanics, structural support of biomolecules, and the glycosylation of macromolecules); (3) the microscale and macroscale levels (polymeric materials, such as cellulose, starch, glycogen, and biomass). NMR spectroscopy is the most powerful research approach for getting insight into the solution structure and function of carbohydrates at all hierarchical levels, from monosaccharides to oligo- and polysaccharides. Recent progress in computational procedures has opened up novel opportunities to reveal the structural information available in the NMR spectra of saccharides and to advance our understanding of the corresponding biochemical processes. The ability to predict the molecular geometry and NMR parameters is crucial for the elucidation of carbohydrate structures. In the present paper, we review the major NMR spectrum simulation techniques with regard to chemical shifts, coupling constants, relaxation rates and nuclear Overhauser effect prediction applied to the three levels of glycomics. Outstanding development in the related fields of genomics and proteomics has clearly shown that it is the advancement of research tools (automated spectrum analysis, structure elucidation, synthesis, sequencing and amplification) that drives the large challenges in modern science. Combining NMR spectroscopy and the computational analysis of structural information encoded in the NMR spectra reveals a way to the automated elucidation of the structure of carbohydrates.

Understanding molecular interactions of graphene is a question of key importance to design new materials and catalytic systems for practical usage. Although for small models good accuracy was demonstrated in theoretical analysis with ab initio and density functional methods, the application to real-size systems with thousands of atoms is currently hardly possible on routine bases due to the high computational cost. In the present study we report that incorporation of dispersion correction led to the principal improvement in the description of graphene systems at a semi-empirical level. The accuracy and the scope of the calculations were explored for a wide range of molecules adsorbed on graphene surfaces (H₂, N₂, CO, CO₂, NH₃, CH₄, H₂O, benzene, naphthalene, coronene, ovalene and cyclohexane). As a challenging parameter, the calculated adsorption energy of aromatic hydrocarbons on graphene E_ads = −1.8 ± 0.1 kcal mol⁻¹ (per one carbon atom) at the PM6-DH2 level was in excellent agreement with the experimentally determined value of E_ads = −1.7 ± 0.3 kcal mol⁻¹. The dispersion corrected semi-empirical method was found to be a remarkable computational tool suitable for everyday laboratory studies of real-size graphene systems. Significant performance improvement (ca. 10³ times faster) and excellent accuracy were found as compared to the ωB97X-D density functional calculations.

An easy and convenient procedure is described for monitoring chemical reactions and characterization of compounds dissolved in ionic liquids using the well-known tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) technique. Generation of wastes was avoided by utilizing an easy procedure for analysis of ionic liquid systems without preliminary isolation and purification. The described procedure also decreased the risk of plausible contamination and damage of the ESI-MS hardware and increased sensitivity and accuracy of the measurements. ESI-MS detection in MS/MS mode was shown to be efficient in ionic liquids systems for structural and mechanistic studies, which are rather difficult otherwise. The developed ESI-MS/MS approach was applied to study samples corresponding to peptide systems in ionic liquids and to platform chemical directed biomass conversion in ionic liquids.

A new approach for the catalytic carbon–sulfur bond formation via cross-coupling reaction is reported. For the first time nano-structured nickel organosulfides [Ni(SAr)₂]_n were used as a source of SAr groups in catalytic cross-coupling reaction. A unique effect of morphology control of the reactivity of SAr groups in cross-coupling reaction was found. Synthesized nano-structured particles were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and their reactivity was studied by NMR in solution. Cross-coupling reaction with Cu catalyst was shown to proceed in the liquid phase and involve leaching, whereas the reaction with Pd catalyst is more complex and may involve both—homogeneous and heterogeneous pathways.

High selectivity and good yields in the catalytic addition of thiols and selenols to alkynes were observed for Ni and Pd chalcogenide catalyst particles with high degree of ordering, whereas direct correlation with size and shape of the particles was not identified.

In this chapter we review mechanistic concepts of carbon–heteroatom bond formation involving hydrofunctionalization of double and triple carbon–carbon bonds via migratory insertion pathway. A variety of useful synthetic procedures were developed within the scope of hydrofunctionalization reaction involving transition metal catalysts to change the direction of the addition reaction and to improve the selectivity of the process. Outstanding potential of multiple bonds activation and insertion in the metal complexes is far from being fully explored. The key factors determining insertion pathways into metal–heteroatom vs. metal–hydrogen bonds and the influence on regioselectivity of the insertion remain to be revealed in nearest future.

In the present review we describe the emerging tendency for creating target-oriented analytical approaches designed to solve important chemical tasks by using a combination of analytical tools. The concept is illustrated by selected examples of advances of NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and electron microscopy in the analysis and study of gas-phase, liquid-state and solid-state chemical systems. Comparative description of chemical applications of these analytical methods is presented and discussed. The bibliography includes 359 references.

An unprecedented sustainable procedure was developed to produce functionalized vinyl monomers H₂C═C(R)(FG) starting from a mixture of sulfur and selenium compounds as a functional group donor (FG = S or Se). The reaction serves as a model for efficient utilization of natural resources of sulfur feedstock in oil and technological sources of sulfur/selenium. The catalytic system is reported with amazing ability to recognize SH/SeH groups in the mixture and selectively incorporate them into valuable organic products via wastes-free atom-economic reaction with alkynes (HC≡CR). Formation of catalyst active site and the mechanism of the catalytic reaction were revealed by joint experimental and theoretical study. The difference in reactivity of μ₁- and μ₂-type chalcogen atoms attached to the metal was established and was shown to play the key role in the action of palladium catalyst. An approach to solve a challenging problem of dynamically changed reaction mixture was demonstrated using adaptive tuning of the catalyst. The origins of the adaptive tuning effect were investigated at molecular level and were found to be governed by the nature of metal–chalcogen bond.

The current state of the art and perspectives of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis are discussed for C–C and C–heteroatom bond formation in organic synthesis. The relationship between catalyst centers represented by a single metal atom and by multiple metal atoms is considered for reactions taking place in solution. The influence of leaching and catalyst evolution in the liquid phase on the activity, selectivity, and stability of the catalyst is highlighted from a mechanistic point of view. Metal nanoparticle and "nanosalt" types of catalysts are compared for constructing new C–C and C–heteroatom bonds.

The mechanistic nature of the conversion of carbohydrates to the sustainable platform chemical 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) was revealed at the molecular level. A detailed study of the key sugar units involved in the biomass conversion process has shown that the simple dissolution of fructose in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride significantly changes the anomeric composition and favors the formation of the open fructoketose form. A special NMR approach was developed for the determination of molecular structures and monitoring of chemical reactions directly in ionic liquids. The transformation of glucose to 5-HMF has been followed in situ through the detection of intermediate species. A new environmentally benign, easily available, metal-free promoter with a dual functionality (B₂O₃) was developed for carbohydrate conversion to 5-HMF.

Tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium (Pd₂(dba)₃) is ubiquitously used as a source of soluble Pd species for catalysis and as a precursor in the synthesis of more complex Pd structures. In spite of the massive usage of this convenient Pd complex, its nature in solution has not been revealed in detail and the applications rely on the assumed state and purity of the compound. In the present study we have developed a convenient NMR procedure to reveal the nature of Pd₂(dba)₃ and to determine the purity of the complex. Surprisingly, it was found that commercially available samples of Pd₂(dba)₃ may readily contain up to 40% of Pd nanoparticles in a wide range of sizes (10–200 nm). The study has shown that the routinely accepted practice of utilization of Pd₂(dba)₃ without analysis of the purity (both commercially available and prepared by common procedures) can introduce significant errors in the estimation of catalyst efficiency and lead to incorrect values of TON, TOF, and reported mol % values in the catalytic procedures. The presence of Pd nanoparticles in the catalyst precursor provides an opportunity for heterogeneous catalytic systems of different nature to be directly accessible from Pd₂(dba)₃. In the present study we report a modified procedure for the synthesis of Pd₂(dba)₃CHCl₃ with 99% purity.

A family of novel [4+2]-cycloaddition reactions is discussed to carry out efficient preparation of poly-substituted heterocyclic compounds in a single-step starting with linear precursors. High selectivity of the intramolecular transformation and pre-defined position of substituents in the product were governed by linear encoding in the structure of starting reagents. The designed reactions utilized green chemistry potential of cycloaddition approach and provided a convenient synthetic route to cyclopentapyridines, indoles,isoindoles, indolizines, isophosphindoles, benzofurans, benzothiophenes, benzoselenophenes (and corresponding dihydro derivatives).

A general highly regio- and stereoselective palladium-catalyzed head-to-head dimerization reaction of terminal acetylenes is presented. This methodology allows for the efficient synthesis of a variety of 1,4-enynes as single E stereoisomers. Computational studies reveal that this dimerization reaction proceeds via the hydropalladation pathway.

A new concept for the design of ligands for transition-metal-catalyzed reactions is described. It was shown that the steric effect of triarylphosphanes upon coordination to a metal center can be controlled by switching between unrestricted and restricted rotation modes. The ligands studied were intrinsically tuned to possess characteristic signals in the ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), thus allowing mechanistic studies to be easily carried out. The efficiency of the developed method was demonstrated in a study on the mechanistic pathways of Pd-catalyzed hydrophosphorylation of alkynes. The catalytic cycle was explored step-by-step by using ESI-MS and NMR methods. Several Pd species were detected under catalytic conditions and the nature of the intermediate metal complexes were evaluated. The process responsible for capturing the Pd catalyst in the inactive resting state and the routes leading to catalyst decomposition were identified and described. For the first time, the catalytic reaction mechanism of hydrophosphorylation of alkynes was revealed at a molecular level, which led to the design of a novel practical procedure for Pd-mediated C–P bond formation. A new Pd/P[(MeO)_nC₆H_5–n]₃ catalytic system was proposed with the outstanding ability to control reaction selectivity simply by adjusting the methoxy substituents in the phosphane ligand.

Poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) are an interesting environment-friendly alternative to classical solvents. Their combination with metals and metallic salts provides powerful reaction systems for a wide variety of transformations. This study presents an overview of the various reactions developed in PEG together with a metallic species. The influence of PEG on the reaction course, the stabilizing effects of the polymer on the metals and the recycling possibility are reported for the various metallic elements of the periodic table.

A new efficient approach was developed for the synthesis of aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds based on [4 + 2] cycloaddition of unsubstituted and heteroatom-substituted alkyne and enyne units. The developed approach provides a practical Green chemical route to several types of important bicyclic products (indane, cyclopentapyridines, indole, isoindole, indolizine, isophosphindole, benzofuran, benzothiophene, benzoselenophene and corresponding dihydro derivatives) starting from simple linear compounds. The mechanism of the reactions was revealed by theoretical calculations using different methods, including CCSD(T) and MP4(SDTQ) for energy calculations and B3LYP, M052X, B3PW91, BLYP and MP2 levels for evaluation of molecular structures.

A fast and efficient approach was developed for the NMR analysis of chiral alcohols and amines using readily available enantiopure MPA (α-methoxy-α-phenylacetic acid) and MTPA (α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethylphenylacetic acid) as chiral derivatizing agents. The procedure requires less than 5 min (including sample preparation time) for analysis using routine NMR hardware and allows accurate measurements for <0.01 mg of the sample of chiral compounds. Direct "in tube" analysis can be performed with high efficiency to determine enantiomeric purity and absolute configuration, as well as to monitor reactions in asymmetric synthesis and catalysis. The developed procedure is superior in terms of waste-free analysis of chiral compounds for environmentally benign applications.

Non-catalytic and catalytic addition reactions were compared in this review, with a special attention paid to the factors controlling selectivity and yields. The scope and limitations of Ni, Pd, Pt, Rh and Au catalysts for the formation of C-S, C-Se and C-Te bonds were discussed with an impact of development of Green chemical methods.

In hydrogen-metal-phosphorus (HMP) transition metal complexes (proposed as intermediates of HP bond addition to alkynes in the catalytic hydrophosphorylation, hydrophosphinylation, and hydrophospination reactions), alkyne insertion into the metal-hydrogen bond was found much more facile compared to alkyne insertion into the metal-phosphorus bond. The conclusion was verified for different metals (Pd, Ni, Pt, and Rh), ligands, and phosphorus groups at various theory levels (B3LYP, B3PW91, BLYP, MP2, and ONIOM). The relative reactivity of the metal complexes in the reaction with alkynes was estimated and decreased in the order of Ni>Pd>Rh>Pt. A trend in relative reactivity was established for various types of phosphorus groups: PR₂>P(O)R₂>P(O)(OR)₂, which showed a decrease in rate upon increasing the number of the oxygen atoms attached to the phosphorus center.

An essay is presented about the future development of organometallic chemistry and the role of transition-metal catalysis.

A novel type of nanoparticles have been designed based on self-organization of the metal centers with organic functional groups. Size- and shape-controlled synthetic procedures were developed to prepare nanostructured Pd and Ni particles in high yields from easily available precursors. The presence of the non-metallic functional groups in the particle's core forced the metal centers to adopt a divalent oxidation state bearing polar chemical bonds ("nanosalt"). The Pd and Ni particles were excellent catalysts to accomplish a highly selective synthetic route to vinyl chalcogenides. The mechanisms of the catalytic reactions via the heterogeneous and homogeneous pathways were revealed and studied in detail.

An automated algorithm for fast quantum chemical modeling of NMR spectra within the framework of the density functional theory was developed. High accuracy of calculations of NMR parameters achieved for various classes of organic compounds including heterocyclic compounds, carbohydrates, steroids, and peptides is comparable with the accuracy of experimental determination. The efficiency of computing the NMR chemical shifts using the high-performance PBE/PRIRODA method was demonstrated.

In the present study we have analyzed the nature of palladium complexes in the catalytic system for selective carbon–sulfur bond formation via the addition of S–S and S–H bonds to alkynes. For the first time the mononuclear and dinuclear palladium complexes were clearly detected by DOSY NMR under the catalytic conditions. It was demonstrated that the concentration of these palladium complexes strongly depends on the amount of phosphine ligand available under reaction conditions

The first practical procedure is reported for the synthesis of (E,E)-1,4-diiodobuta-1,3-diene from very simple starting materials (acetylene and I₂). A pure crystalline product was obtained in a green chemical procedure utilizing the key advantages of highly selective Pt-catalyzed transformation and 100% atom efficiency of the addition reaction. The Pt catalyst was recovered and re-used in the reaction without a noticeable loss of activity.

The puzzling question of alkyne insertion into PdP and PdH bonds leading to the formation of new PdC, CP, and CH bonds was explored by theoretical calculations at the CCSD(T) and B3LYP levels of theory. The key factors responsible for selectivity of catalytic hydrofunctionalization of alkynes were resolved and studied in details for the models of hydrophosphorylation, hydrophosphinylation, and hydrophospination reactions. In contrast with the generally accepted mechanistic picture, the calculations have shown that several pathways are possible depending on the nature and geometrical arrangement of the phosphorus group. It was found that the product of alkyne insertion into the metal–hydrogen bond should be easily formed under kinetic-control conditions, while the product of alkyne insertion into the metal–phosphorus bond may be formed in certain cases under thermodynamic control. For the first time, the calculations have revealed the role of the oxygen atom in the reactivity of P=P(O)R₂ groups and the role of the interactions involving the lone pair of the P=PR₂ group in the reagent. The fundamental properties of the PdP, CP, and PH bonds were reported, and the larger bond strength upon increasing the number of oxygen atoms bound to phosphorus (P=PR₂, P(O)R₂, and P(O)(OR)₂) have been shown. The relationship between bond energy, acidity, and reactivity of the studied phosphorus compounds has been determined.

1,4-Diiodo-1,3-dienes are unique reagents in organic synthesis and have been employed in several well-known and recently developed areas of application. Furthermore, these dienes are easily accessible, starting from the alkynes and iodine, and they have demonstrated high reactivity in cross-coupling reactions, organometallic synthesis, in the preparation of heterocyclic compounds, and several other transformations. The high reactivity of the 1,4-diiodo-1,3-dienes allows for the development of synthetic procedures that use mild conditions (room temperature). The key advantages in assembling complex organic molecules, natural products, and compounds for material science using 1,4-diiodo-1,3-dienes as building blocks include high yields, excellent selectivity, and diverse reactivity in carboncarbon and carbonheteroatom bond formation. This Focus Review describes the scope and application of the 1,4-diiodo-1,3-dienes in organic synthesis as well as summarizes the methods for preparation of the dienes.

⁷⁷Se NMR offers superior sensing of chirality within the structure of the diastereomers (Δδ up to 6.1 ppm), compared to ¹³C (Δδ < 1 ppm) and ¹H (Δδ < 0.2 ppm). The developed procedure is equally well suitable for determination of the enantiomeric purity of chiral alcohols and amines as pure samples as well as reaction mixtures and crude products.

The coordination of phosphine ligands to nickel acetylacetonate was studied in toluene solution, and the first X-ray structure of the unstable complex trans-[Ni(acac)₂(PMe₂Ph)₂] has been reported. A convenient procedure was developed to generate Ni(0) species in situ in solution from a Ni(acac)₂ precursor, and their application in catalysis was demonstrated. A study of the reaction mechanism has suggested that water may play an important role in the formation of zerovalent nickel species. The nature of the Ni(0) species was confirmed by trapping with Ph₂S₂, and the structure of the resulting complexes trans-[Ni(SPh)₂L₂] was established by X-ray analysis for L = PMe₂Ph, PMePh₂, PBu₃.

The present study reports the evidence for the multiple carbon–carbon bond insertion into the metal–heteroatom bond via a five-coordinate metal complex. Detailed analysis of the model catalytic reaction of the carbon–sulfur (CS) bond formation unveiled the mechanism of metal-mediated alkyne insertion: a new pathway of CS bond formation without preliminary ligand dissociation was revealed based on experimental and theoretical investigations. According to this pathway alkyne insertion into the metal–sulfur bond led to the formation of intermediate metal complex capable of direct CS reductive elimination. In contrast, an intermediate metal complex formed through alkyne insertion through the traditional pathway involving preliminary ligand dissociation suffered from "improper" geometry configuration, which may block the whole catalytic cycle. A new catalytic system was developed to solve the problem of stereoselective SS bond addition to internal alkynes and a cost-efficient Ni-catalyzed synthetic procedure is reported to furnish formation of target vinyl sulfides with high yields (up to 99 %) and excellent Z/E selectivity (>99:1).

Utilization of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry for joint mechanistic and structural studies is a well-known practice. Several opportunities have appeared in recent years because of new hardware development and design of novel experimental procedures. Recent progress in this area and leading examples of new development, as well as already distinguished techniques, are discussed.

Main factors have been analyzed necessary for creation of an efficient catalytic system for alkynes hydrophosphorylation based on nickel complexes, and a valid model system was suggested for the comparison with palladium complexes. It has been discovered for the first time that the insertion of an alkyne into the metal-hydrogen bond occurs with a considerably lower activation barrier than into the metal-phosphorus bond, whereas the variation in the reaction energy corresponds in both cases to an exothermic reaction. Under the optimized conditions the transformation catalyzed by nickel complexes does not require acid addition and may proceed even in the absence of a phosphine ligand.

The nickel catalyst prepared in situ from nickel bis(acetylacetonate) [Ni(acac)₂] precursor and bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE) ligand has shown excellent performance in the hydrophosphorylation of alkynes. Markovnikov-type regioselective addition to terminal alkynes and stereoselective addition to internal alkynes were carried out with high selectivity without an acidic co-catalyst (in contrast to the palladium/acid catalytic system). Various H-phosphonates and alkynes reacted smoothly in the developed catalytic system with up to 99% yield. The mechanisms of catalyst activation and CP bond formation were revealed by experimental (NMR, ESI-MS, X-ray) and theoretical (density functional calculations) studies. Two different pathways of the alkyne insertion in the coordination sphere of the metal are reported for the first time.

Stable 1,2-disulfanylalkene palladium complexes [(RS-CH=CR′-SR)PdCl₂] were synthesized in 85–94% yield by reaction of palladium(II) chloride with sulfur-containing ligands RS-CH=C(R′)-SR (analogs of dithiolate ligands). The structure of the complexes was studied by NMR spectroscopy and quantum-chemical methods. The binding energy in palladium complexes with bis(arylsulfanyl)- and bis(alkylsulfanyl)alkenes was estimated (DFT) at 50 and 56 kcal/mol, respectively. Variation of substituents on the sulfur atoms is a convenient tool for fine tuning of the ligand properties and controlling the strength of the complex. The bite angle of the ligands does not depend on the substituent nature and is 88–89°, which is typical of square-planar complexes. According to the bite angle, the examined ligands are analogs of well known bidentate phosphine ligands, but the former are more labile since the corresponding binding energy is lower by 36 kcal/mol.

A novel catalytic system has been developed to accomplish the hydrophosphorylation of terminal and internal alkynes with high isolated yields (up to 96%) and excellent regio- and stereo­selectivity (>99:1). The key factor was to apply a low-ligated palladium/triphenylphosphane (1:2) catalytic system in the presence of a catalytic amount of trifluoroacetic acid. The catalytic system so developed has been applied successfully to permit the formation of diverse alkenylphosphonates utilizing a variety of available H-phos­phonates and alkynes.

Catalyst leaching from Pd and Ni particles stabilized by organic sulfur and selenium ligands occurs in solution in the presence of phosphanes. This process has been monitored in real time by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and the nature of the metal species established. This catalyst leaching is shown to be a powerful tool for generating new catalytic activity from species formed in situ where the parent bulk particles are inactive. The catalytic system developed has been successfully implemented in a novel synthetic procedure that provides new types of cyclic sulfur and selenium compounds in high yields through the reaction between alkynes and dichalcogenides.

In the present review we address scarcely studied application area of NMR spectroscopy — investigation of molten state and solvent-free systems. In such a case NMR spectra are recorded without a solvent and without magnetic field stabilization on any nucleus. Taking our recent studies of catalytic addition of sulfur- and selenium-containing compounds to alkynes as examples, we describe most important practical aspects of NMR studies and their application for solving important chemical problems.

We have found that ligand control over the carbon−carbon and carbon−heteroatom bond formation on the nickel center provides an easy and convenient route to symmetrical (minor) and unsymmetrical (major) isomers of sulfur- and selenium-substituted 1,3-dienes. The unsymmetrical product is a new type of 1,4-substituted conjugated diene, which was readily synthesized from alkynes and diaryldichalcogenides. The unique feature of this developed one-pot transformation is total stereodefined synthesis of the diene skeleton, controlling not only the configuration of the double bond but also the s-gauche conformation of the central C−C bond. The mechanistic study revealed the key feature of alkyne insertion into the Ni−E and Ni−C bonds (E = S, Se), which governs the direction of the chemical transformation.

We have developed two new catalytic systems based on Ni and Pd complexes to solve the challenging problem of dialkyldichalcogenide (Alk ₂E₂; E=S, Se) addition to alkynes. A comparative study of two catalytic systems — Ni/PMe₂Ph and Pd/PCy₂Ph — has revealed that the Ni catalyst is superior with respect to high catalytic activity and more general scope relative to the Pd system. A novel synthetic methodology was developed for the preparation of (Z)-bis(alkylthio)alkenes and (Z)-bis(alkylseleno)alkenes from terminal alkynes with excellent stereoselectivity and high yields.

A novel approach was developed to prepare Pd nanoparticles with organic ligands in high yields. The structural unit of the Pd species was constructed involving Pd−S bonds. The synthesized Pd particles were highly selective catalysts of S−H bond addition to alkynes under microwave heating. An X-ray diffraction study of one of the products of the addition reaction revealed unusual supramolecular organization of cation/anion layers.

A theoretical ONIOM study has been carried out to understand the influence of phosphane ligands on the structure of Pd complexes and their reactivity in C–C bond formation. The calculations were performed for Me–Me reductive elimination with the ligands L = PPh₃, PCy₃, PMe₃, PH₃, and vinyl–vinyl, Ph–Ph, ethynyl–ethynyl, vinyl–Me, vinyl–Ph and vinyl–ethynyl couplings with L = PPh₃ for [PdR₂L_n] complexes (n = 1, 2). The calculations revealed critical changes in the reactivity of palladium complexes depending on the mechanism and ligand type. In the case of the standard four-coordinate pathway (n = 2) the relative reactivity in carbon–carbon bond formation follows the order: L = PPh₃ > PH₃ > PCy₃ > PMe₃. However, for reductive elimination involving T-shaped complexes by the ligand predissociation pathway (n = 1), the relative reactivity changes in the order: L = PCy₃ > PPh₃ > PH₃ > PMe₃. The theoretical study suggested that the steric effect of phosphane ligands has the largest impact on the structure of the initial palladium complexes, while the electronic effect is most influential on the transition states of C–C coupling in these complexes.

In the presence of transition metal catalysts, hydrothiolation and hydroselenation reactions, as well as bisthiolation and bisselenation reactions, have been successfully carried out with high selectivities and yields. New transition metal-catalyzed synthetic methods have been developed for the preparation of vinyl sulfides and vinyl selenides of various types. Mechanistic study has revealed that a homogeneous catalytic system based on phosphine complexes of palladium is the best choice for carrying out stereoselective additions of disulfides and diselenides to alkynes. A heterogeneous Ni-catalyzed reaction with a unique self-organized nanostructured catalyst was superior for carrying out regioselective additions of thiols and selenols to alkynes

The synthetic application and mechanistic aspects of transition-metal (Ni, Pd, Pt) catalyzed addition of E-E and E-H (E=S, Se) bonds to alkynes were investigated in detail. This study revealed major factors controlling the selectivity of such addition reactions. A new Ni-based catalytic system with a self-organized nanostructured catalyst has been designed to perform chemical transformations in high yield, under mild conditions.

A simple heterogeneous Ni-based catalytic methodology was developed for regioselective hydroselenation of terminal alkynes and stereoselective hydroselenation of internal alkynes. The developed heterogeneous catalytic system is superior to the known homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for the Se−H bond addition to the triple bond of alkynes. The catalytic transformation was performed under mild conditions, thus avoiding byproducts formation. The mechanistic study revealed that the yield of the addition products depends on the catalyst particle size and rapidly increases upon decreasing particle size into the nanosized region. The present study describes a simple and efficient procedure for the formation of a self-organized nanosized catalytic system starting from an easily available precursor, Ni(acac)₂, without any special treatment.

Nickel-catalyzed addition of benzenethiol to alkynes leads to alkenyl and dienyl sulfides; the direction of the process can be controlled by varying the PhSH/alkyne ratio. An advanced procedure, which ensures higher yields of 2-phenylsulfanylalkenes, includes gradual addition of alkyne to the other reactants. The structures of conjugated dienyl sulfides formed in the reaction were determined by 2D NMR spectroscopy.

A novel homogeneous catalytic system has been developed for the regioselective hydrothiolation of alkynes based on CpNi(NHC)Cl complexes (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene). The designed catalyst was efficient for the selective addition of a single ArS group to an alkyne and was suitable for the synthesis of vinylsulfides, without side reactions leading to bis(arylthio)alkenes. Furthermore, this catalytic system allowed for the S−H bond addition to alkynes to be performed with high regioselectivity (up to 31:1) and in good yields (61−87%). A mechanistic study showed that this reaction involved three steps: (1) a nickel-based substitution of chloride for the ArS group, (2) alkyne insertion into the Ni−S bond, and (3) protonolysis of the Ni−C bond. The intermediate CpNi(NHC)(SAr) complexes were unambiguously characterized by X-ray analysis.

A new nanosized catalytic system has been developed for convenient preparation of β-vinyl sulfides H₂CC(SAr)R with high yields (79−98%) and excellent selectivity (>98:2). Inexpensive and easily available Ni(acac)₂ was used as catalyst precursor. Solvent-free conditions were combined with high atom efficiency of the ArSH addition reaction to terminal alkynes (HC⋮C−R) in order to create an environmentally friendly synthetic procedure. The mechanistic study has indicated that catalytic reaction takes place under heterogeneous conditions with alkyne insertion into the Ni−S bond as a key step.

The first example of palladium-catalyzed stereoselective addition of diphenyl disulfide and diphenyl diselenide to the triple bond of terminal alkynes under microwave irradiation conditions is described. It was found that both the element—element (E-E) and carbon—element bonds can be activated in the catalytic system studied. The products of both reactions were isolated in quantitative yields. According to quantum-chemical calculations, the reaction mechanism involves the oxidative addition of the E-E bond to Pd⁰. Depending on the microwave power and reaction conditions, the next stage is either the reaction with alkyne or the carbon—element bond activation. The product of the oxidative addition of Ph₂Se₂ to Pd⁰, namely, dinuclear complex [Pd₂(SePh)₄(PPh₃₎₂], was detected by ³¹P{¹H}NMR spectroscopy directly in the Ph₂Se₂/PPh₃ melt formed under microwave irradiation conditions.

The mechanism and controlling factors of the C−C reductive elimination reactions of vinyl, phenyl, ethynyl, and methyl ligands from the Pd and Pt complexes RR'M(PH₃)₂ were studied with a density functional method. The barrier of C−C coupling from the symmetrical R₂M(PH₃)₂ (where M = Pd, Pt) complex decreases in the order R = methyl > ethynyl > phenyl > vinyl, and the exothermicity of the reaction increases in the same order. That is, the methyl−methyl coupling has the highest barrier and smallest exothermicity, while the vinyl−vinyl coupling has the smallest barrier and largest exothermicity. For the asymmetrical RR'M(PH₃)₂ complexes, the activation and reaction energies are found to be approximately the average of the corresponding parameters of symmetrical coupling reactions, and this simple rule is expected to be valid for other asymmetrical coupling reactions involving different substituted alkyl, vinyl, phenyl, and ethynyl groups as well as different transition-metal complexes. These C−C coupling reactions occur much more easily in Pd than in Pt complexes, because the Pd−R bonds are weaker than the Pt−R bonds. The major thermodynamic and kinetic factors determining the C−C coupling in these complexes have been discussed. For reactions with similar exothermicities, the kinetics of C−C bond formation is mainly determined by the orientation effect that includes the directionality of the M−C bond and the steric interaction between R and the other ligand (phosphine in the present case), which favors vinyl over phenyl over methyl. However the activation barrier is strongly dominated by exothermicity when it is very different between reactions.

A new catalytic system for the Ar₂E₂ (E = S, Se) addition to terminal alkynes (HC⋮C−R) has been developed to synthesize bis-element-substituted alkenes Z-H(ArE)CC(EAr)R with high stereoselectivity and yields. Utilizing phosphite ligand P(OiPr)₃ allowed solving two major problems of this catalytic reaction: (1) prevent catalyst polymerization and (2) simplify product purification procedures. Key intermediatestrans-[Pd(SPh)₂(P(OiPr)₃)₂] and trans-[Pd₂(SPh)₄(P(OiPr)₃)₂]were synthesized by S−S oxidative addition reaction to Pd(0) and studied by X-ray analysis. The equilibrium between the mononuclear and dinuclear complexes in solution was established by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. In addition to the advantages in the synthetic procedure, the isolation of the stable palladium complexes with phosphite ligand made possible a detailed mechanistic study of the catalytic reaction.

The polymer-supported recyclable palladium catalyst was prepared for stereoselective diaryl disulfides addition to ­terminal alkynes with high yields. The 96-98% product purity was achieved after filtering the polymer-supported catalyst without ­special purification procedure.

The main concept behind the new procedure involves joint analysis of HMQC spectral data and theoretically calculated NMR chemical shifts. Using the combined experimental/ab-initio methodology, complete signal and stereochemical assignments were made for the isomers in HMQC spectrum. Chemical shifts of ⁷⁷Se were calculated with GIAO method at B3LYP/6-311G(d) level with good accuracy.

Regioselective Markovnikov-type addition of PhSH to alkynes (HC≡C-R) has been performed using easily available nickel complexes. The non-catalytic side reaction leading to anti-Markovnikov products was suppressed by addition of γ-terpinene to the catalytic system. The other side reaction leading to the bis(phenylthio)alkene was avoided by excluding phosphine and phosphite ligands from the catalytic system. It was found that catalytic amounts of Et₃N significantly increased the yield and selectivity of the catalytic reaction. Under optimized conditions high product yields of 60–85% were obtained for various alkynes [R=n-C₅H₁₁, CH₂NMe₂, CH₂OMe, CH₂SPh, C₆H₁₁(OH), (CH₂)₃CN]. The X-ray structure of one of the synthesized products is reported.

Combined density functional and ONIOM studies have been performed to investigate the mechanism of rhodium-catalyzed boration of imines. Catalytic imine boration has been found to proceed via the following stages: (1) oxidative addition of B−B to the Rh complex, (2) imine coordination, (3) migratory insertion of the imine into the rhodium−boron (Rh−B) bond, and (4) β-hydrogen elimination to give a monoboration product or carbon−boron (C−B) bond formation to yield a diboration product. The choice of the final stage depends on the structure of the imine and boration reagent. Bulky substrate molecules facilitate C−H bond activation and retard C−B bond formation, while in the absence of sterical hindrance C−B bond formation is preferred over C−H bond activation. The present study is the first that outlines the mechanistic differences in C C and CN bond boration and rationalizes the effect of bulky substituents on the mechanism of imine boration reaction. The expected difference in regioselectivity between imine and alkene boration is also discussed.

A convenient methodology was developed for a very accurate calculation of 13C NMR chemical shifts of the title compounds. GIAO calculations with density functional methods (B3LYP, B3PW91, PBE1PBE) and 6-311+G(2d,p) basis set predict experimental chemical shifts of 3-ethynylcyclopropene (1), 1-ethynylcyclopropane (2) and 1,1-diethynylcyclopropane (3) with high accuracy of 1–2 ppm. The present article describes in detail the effect of geometry choice, density functional method, basis set and effect of solvent on the accuracy of GIAO calculations of 13C NMR chemical shifts. In addition, the particular dependencies of 13C chemical shifts on the geometry of cyclopropane ring were investigated.

An efficient methodology was developed for performing palladium-catalyzed E–E (E = S, Se) bond addition to alkynes under solvent free conditions. Compared to reaction in solvent significant enhancement of reaction rate, improved efficiency and remarkable catalyst stability were observed under solvent free conditions. The addition reactions were carried out with high stereoselectivity and yields in a short reaction time.

Solvent-free palladium-catalyzed addition of diaryl disulfides and diselenides to terminal alkynes makes it possible to achieve high stereoselectivity and almost 100% yields in ≈10 min using only 0.1 mol.% catalyst. Both Pd(PPh ₃)₄ and easily available Pd(OAc)₂ and PdCl₂ can be used in the reaction with an excess of triphenylphosphine. The catalyst and triphenylphosphine are readily recycled for repeated use. The study of the mechanism of the solvent-free catalytic reaction indicates that the process involves binuclear palladium complexes.

A new approach to determination of the stereochemical structure of bis-selenium-substituted alkenes using experimental ⁷⁷Se NMR studies and B3LYP/6-311G(d) quantum-chemical calculations is developed. Joint analysis of experimental and calculated data allows assignment of signals in the ⁷⁷Se NMR spectrum. The method was evaluated taking the model compounds (PhSe)HC=C(SePh)R (R = COOMe, CH₂NMe₂, CH₂OH, Ph) as examples.

A mechanistic study of the hydroselenation of alkynes catalyzed by Pd(PPh ₃)₄ and Pt(PPh₃)₄ has shown that the palladium complex gives products of both Se-H and Se-Se bond addition to the triple bond of alkynes, while the platinum complex selectively catalyzes Se-H bond addition. The key intermediate of PhSeH addition to the metal center, namely Pt(H)(SePh)(PPh₃)₂, was detected by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. The analogous palladium complex rapidly decomposes with evolution of molecular hydrogen. A convenient method was developed for the preparation of Markovnikov hydroselenation products H₂C-C(SePh)R, and the scope of this reaction was investigated. The first X-ray structure of the Markovnikov product H₂C-C(SePh)CH₂N⁺HMe₂HOOC-COO⁻ is reported.

Palladium catalyzed hydroselenation of alkynes gives the products of both Se-H and Se-Se bonds addition to the triple bond, while platinum complex selectively catalyzes Se-H bond addition.

Comparative study of the intramolecular alkyne triple bond addition reaction to the conjugated ­C≡C—CH X moiety (X = CH₂, O, S, NH) revealed that two different pathways are possible in the system, namely [4 + 2] and [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. The energetically preferred pathway for enynes (X = CH₂) involves [4 + 2] cycloaddition leading to benzene derivatives, whereas heteroatom-substituted substrates undergo [3 + 2] cycloaddition resulting in a five-membered aromatic ring in the final product. This paper reports a detailed mechanistic study based on full potential energy surface calculations at the MP2 and B3LYP theory levels, with MP4(SDTQ) energy evaluation. The effect of solvent was included within the PCM approach.

The present study explains the different catalytic activities of platinum and palladium in Se−Se addition reactions with alkynes. Under the catalytic conditions cis-[Pt(SePh)₂(PPh₃)₂] undergoes fast isomerization to the trans isomer, which does not react with alkynes. Palladium complexes maintain their catalytic activity, due to the formation of the dinuclear structure [Pd₂(SePh)₄(PPh₃)₂]. It was shown that the palladium intermediate involved in the catalytic cycle can be prepared directly in the reaction mixture starting from the simple [PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂] precursor, thus allowing replacement for the traditional Pd(PPh₃)₄ catalyst. X-ray analysis shows that the products of Se−Se addition reactions with alkynes possess the necessary geometry parameters for coordination as bidentate ligands.

The mechanistic study of palladium catalyzed S–S and Se–Se bonds addition to alkynes revealed the involvement of dinuclear transition metal complexes in the catalytic cycle. Coordination of alkyne to dinuclear transition metal complex was found to be the rate determining step of the reaction. An unusual phosphine ligand effect increasing the yield of addition reaction was found in the studied system. A new synthetic procedure was developed to perform the catalytic reaction using easily available Pd(II) complex. The scope of the reaction and the reactivity of S–S and Se–Se bonds toward alkynes were investigated. The X-ray structure of the product of S–S bond addition reaction showed favorable geometry for the possible application as a chelate ligand.

An unusual phosphine ligand effect increasing the yield of the Ar ₂E₂ addition reaction to alkynes was found. The catalytic reaction involves intermediate formation of dinuclear palladium complexes, which may be a subject of further polymerization.

Activation of the CÍÄC bond in acetylenic hydrocarbons, catalyzed by iodide complexes of platinum(IV), and the subsequent CÄC coupling reaction make it possible to synthesize 1,4-diiodo-substituted dienes with high stereo- and regioselectivity. The reaction involves intermediate formation of bis-σ-vinyl platinum(IV) complexes which can be isolated in the pure state. Under similar conditions palladium(II) complexes catalyze iodine addition to acetylene.

Addition of benzeneselenol to terminal alkynes HC:CR, catalyzed by Pd(0) complexes, leads to formation of mixtures of mono- and bis(phenylseleno)alkenes, depending on the nature of the R substituent. Electron-donor groups (R = Bu, CH₂OH, CH₂NMe₂) give rise to addition according to the Markovnikov rule, whereas from alkynes with electron-acceptor groups (R = Ph, COOMe) mixtures of products are formed as a result of side reactions. A probable reaction mechanism includes oxidative addition of benzeneselenol to the metal, alkyne insertion into the Pd-Se bond, and reductive elimination.

A detailed density functional study was performed for the vinyl−vinyl reductive elimination reaction from bis-σ-vinyl complexes [M(CH CH₂)₂X_n]. It was shown that the activity of these complexes decreases in the following order: Pd^IV, Pd^II > Pt^IV, Pt^II, Rh^III > Ir^III, Ru^II, Os^II. The effects of different ligands X were studied for both platinum and palladium complexes, which showed that activation barriers for C−C bond formation reaction decrease in the following order: X = Cl > Br, NH₃ > I > PH₃. Steric effects induced either by the ligands X or by substituents on the vinyl group were also examined. In addition, the major factors responsible for stereoselectivity control on the final product formation stage and possible involvement of asymmetric coupling pathways are reported. In all cases ΔE, ΔH, ΔG, and ΔG_aq energy surfaces were calculated and analyzed. The solvent effect calculation shows that in a polar medium halogen complexes may undergo a reductive elimination reaction almost as easily as compounds with phosphine ligands.

The mechanisms of intermolecular and intramolecular enyne [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions were investigated in detail using high-level ab initio methods. The structures of all transition states and intermediates were located using the MP2 method, potential energy surfaces were calculated at the MP2, MP3, MP4(SDQ), MP4(SDTQ), CCSD and CCSD(T) theory levels and the solvent effect was studied within PCM model.

An unusual fact of HC-C-COOMe triple bond activation by Pt(IV) iodide leading to the formation of new bis-σ-vinyl complexes [Pt(CH-CI-COOMe)(CIH-C-COOMe)(Sol) _3−nI_n]²⁻ⁿ (where n=2, 3) with different regioselectivity in vinyl ligands is reported. The isolated complex can be involved in C–C coupling reaction resulting in a head-to-tail connection of vinyl groups in a substituted diene unit.

A density functional theoretical study has been performed for the mechanisms of platinum(IV)-catalyzed alkyne-to-conjugated diene conversion reaction, which involves two subsequent triple bond activation steps followed by vinyl−vinyl coupling. Calculations have shown that acetylene triple bond activation by PtI ₆^2- in water or methanol solution may proceed through either external nucleophile addition or intramolecular insertion, with the former mechanism occurring with a lower barrier and leading to thermodynamically favored product. The rate-determining step of the entire catalytic cycle is found to be the formation of a platinum(IV) cis-divinyl derivative. Although vinyl−vinyl coupling reaction may take place from both six-coordinated octahedral and five-coordinated square-pyramidal platinum(IV) divinyl complexes, the five-coordinated derivative was found to react with a significantly lower barrier. The results obtained here are in good agreement with available experimental data and reveal important details of the catalytic reaction mechanism. The present investigation also has shown that no reliable conclusions may be drawn for the system studied without taking solvent effects into account.

An unusual fact of C-C reductive elimination reaction in bis-chelated Pt(IV) complexes under mild conditions was studied. It has been shown that breaking at least one of the chelate rings is required to promote a carbon-carbon bond formation reaction. An intermediate complex, which resulted from a chelate ligand breaking process, was detected directly in the reaction mixture using 2D ¹H–¹⁹⁵Pt heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy.

Direct evidence was found that catalytic alkynes conversion reaction in the system Pt(IV)-I ⁻-I₂ proceeds through a platinum(IV) σ-vinyl complex. A synthesis, X-ray structure determination, and a multinuclear NMR study of the key-intermediate complex [Pt(CH-CI- CH₂OCH₃)₂(I)₂] as well as an expansion of the catalytic reaction are shown.

A new catalytic reaction – dimerization of acetylene accompanied by addition of iodine to yield (E,E)-1,4-diiodobuta-1,3-diene at 30°C in a methanolic solution of NaI, Pt^IV and I₂ – has been found; a plausible reaction mechanism involves intermediate formation of a cis-divinyl derivative of platinum(IV) through two subsequent triple bond iodoplatination steps followed by reductive elimination of the final product.

The interaction between diphenylacetylene and dichlorophenylphosphine under various conditions is a simple method for the preparation of pentaphenylphosphole derivatives exhibiting fluorescence properties. Depending on the electronic state of the various centers of the phospholic structure, it was possible to obtain molecules with fluorescence, as in the blue area for 1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenyl-2,5-dihydro-phosphole-1-oxide (H2PPPO), in the yellow area for 1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenylphosphole-1-oxide (PPPO) and in the cyan area for 1,2,3,4,5-pentaphenylphosphole (PPP). The effect of the structure and π-conjugation on the optical properties of these compounds was studied using PPP derivatives as examples. Unusual changes in the optical properties of PPP derivatives in solution and in the crystalline state are explained. In the case of agglomeration of PPPO and PPP molecules, the effect of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) was observed to have weak fluorescence in solution and strong fluorescence in the aggregated state. However, for H2PPPO, the AIE effect remains mild. With the help of experimental studies, supported by theoretical calculations, the main mechanism of the optical properties of pentaphenylphosphole derivatives has been revealed. It was observed that the intramolecular motions of PPPO and PPP are more limited in the solid state than the motions of H2PPPO, which is associated with less conjugation of the phenyl rotors of H2PPPO. The analysis of the structure and distribution of electron density showed why hydrogenation of the phosphole ring leads to a sharp change in the optical properties of pentaphenylphosphole derivatives, while the oxidation of phosphorus does not lead to the disappearance of the AIE effect and to a lesser extent affects the change in the fluorescence wavelength. Thus, it was shown how the regulation of various structural features of the phospholic ring helps to control the optical properties of such compounds.