Themed collection Most popular 2023 catalysis articles

Recently, the field of intermolecular enantioselective amination of non-acidic C(sp³)–H bonds has witnessed rapid advances, which are discussed in this perspective

The summarized new advances and proposed research directions in this perspective can provide in-depth insights for the application/mechanism investigation of DAC-mediated Fenton/Fenton-like reactions.

A new kid on the block: Cu(II) offers unique possibilities in photocatalysis for generating and stabilizing radicals to promote challenging synthetic transformations.

This perspective article highlights redox catalysis of organic molecules via photoinduced electron transfer, which is well exploited for the important photoredox reactions including hydrogen evolution, water oxidation and synthetic applications.

Product distribution during electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction is closely related to the behaviour of reaction intermediates. Morphological and microenvironmental engineering of Cu-based catalysts can regulate the reaction tendency of intermediates, enabling target products to be selectively obtained.

In this review, HEM-based catalyst designing strategies were summarized, including nanostructure design, defect engineering, strain effect, composition regulation, and theoretical calculation/prediction.

This review presents discrete metal complexes that catalyse or photocatalyse reactions within living cells or living organisms.

A tunable family of ibuprofen intermediate-derived CAAC-base complexes for different applications, dependent from the size of the N-aryl substituent.

An earth-abundant Cu(I) chromophore-anthraquinone dyad is reported to photochemically accumulate two electrons at the anthraquinone via proton-coupled electron transfer, generating the monoprotonated photoproduct.

Catalytic cracking could enable low temperature conversion of hard-to recycle polyolefin plastics. However, traditional cracking catalysts suffer from macro and microscopic mass transport limitations, which call for plastic pre-treatment.

The active center of a paired Ir–O–Ir structure was generated via electronic perturbations of correlated Ir single atoms on Co₃O₄ nanosheets, and the O atom of which functioned as the main active site for the selective electrocatalysis of As(III).

The efficient production of methanol by reduction of CO₂ using green hydrogen is a promising strategy from both a green chemistry and a carbon net zero perspective.

Temperature-programmed-reduction studies combined with advanced spectroscopy and data analysis methods shed light into the dynamic changes of Cu-speciation during light alkane selective oxidation over Cu-mordenite zeolites.

A comprehensive study of the photophysical behaviors and CO₂ reduction electrocatalytic properties of a series of cofacial porphyrin organic cages reveals metals regulate the excitation electron transfer and CO₂ reduction electrocatalytic properties.

A mono-metal decorated covalent organic framework interlocked the catalysis mediated by light and the transition metal for light-fueled C–X cross-coupling reactions in excellent efficiency.

Direct methane coupling – one of the holy grails of industrial chemistry – was shown to involve carbon exchange between the metal carbide matrix and methane.

A combination of kinetic, thermodynamic, and spectroscopic techniques demonstrates that increasing the water fraction within organic solvents accelerates alkene epoxidations while suppressing the undesired H₂O₂ decomposition pathway.

Computational volcano plots are used to predict selectivity in the context of (first-row) transition metal-catalyzed CO₂ reduction. The expected trends were tested experimentally and allowed for systematic improvement of the catalyst.

Under the influence of mechanical energy, a reduced organic hydrocarbon can transfer electrons in the solid-state to accomplish strong bond activation. Such activation was integrated into a catalytic cycle to design cross-coupling reactions.

A high-energy metastable structure in an extremely small proportion that is difficult to identify can play a key role in delivering single-atom catalysis. This shakes the common assumption adopted in studies of single-atom catalysis.

Loaded CoPi on Fe₂O₃ facilitates spatial charge separation by dynamic hole storage mechanisms, in which CoPi receives trapped holes in surface states at low potential and directly captures holes in the valence band at high potential.

Statistical models can be applied to predict and develop enantioselective reactions involving two catalysts.

This work highlights the importance of a direct contact between the CO-generating molecular catalyst and the Cu catalyst to promote C–C coupling in tandem electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction.

A highly enantioselective palladium-catalyzed hydrosilylation of 1,3-diynes with dihydrosilanes was established for the facile preparation of Si-stereogenic enynes and an enyne-linked chiral polymer (polyenyne) in good yields with excellent ees.

Various metal-doped covalent triazine frameworks exhibit selective high-rate CO₂ reduction activity, depending on the metal species. The selectivity and activity corresponded well to the computational adsorption strength of intermediates.

Controlling crystal growth kinetics using different reductants is an efficient strategy to modulate the surficial chemistry micro-circumstance of Cu aerogels, enabling the creation of efficient surface sites for increasing C₂₊ product selectivity.