Organosulphur and organoselenium compounds as ligands for catalytic systems in the Sonogashira coupling.

Sonogashira coupling is a reaction of aryl/vinyl halides with terminal alkynes. It is used for the synthesis of conjugated enynes. Generally, copper (Cu) is required as a mediator for this reaction. It requires a long reaction time, high catalyst loading, or expensive ligands. Recently, homogeneous, heterogeneous, and nanocatalysts have been developed using organosulphur and organoselenium compounds as building blocks. Preformed complexes of metals with organosulphur and organoselenium ligands are used for homogeneous catalysis. Heterogeneous catalytic systems have also been developed using Cu, Pd, and Ni as metals. The nanocatalytic systems (synthesized using such ligands) include copper selenides and stabilized palladium(0) nanospecies. This article aims to cover the developments in the field of the processes and techniques used so far to generate catalytically relevant organic ligands having sulphur or selenium donor sites, the utility of such ligands in the syntheses of homogeneous, heterogeneous, and nanocatalytic systems, and critical analysis of their application in the catalysis of this coupling reaction. The results of catalysis are analyzed in terms of the effects of the S/Se donor, halogen atom of aryl halide, the effect of the presence/absence of electron-withdrawing or electron-donating groups or substituents on the aromatic ring of haloarenes/substituted phenylacetylenes, as well as the position (ortho or para) of the substitution. Substrate scope is discussed for all the kinds of catalysis. The supremacy of heterogeneous and nanocatalytic systems indicates promising future prospects.

Organosulphur, organoselenium and organotellurium compounds for the development of heterogeneous and nanocatalytic systems for Suzuki coupling.

Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling (SMC) is an extremely useful reaction in organic syntheses. During the last two decades, many researchers across the world have employed organochalcogen compounds in various ways for the development of catalytic systems for this reaction. Chalcogen-ligated molecular complexes have been designed using such compounds as ligands, and applied as homogeneous catalytic systems. During the period 2013-2022, various heterogeneous and nano-catalytic systems have also been developed using organosulphur, organoselenium and organotellurium compounds. The main advantages associated with such systems are their easy synthesis and air- and moisture-insensitivity. This article aims to provide insights into the synthetic methodologies pertaining to the preparation of (i) these catalytically relevant and useful compounds and (ii) the heterogeneous and nano-catalytic systems designed using them. Another major focus of the article is to rationalize and critically analyse the effect of chalcogen donor on the size, composition, morphology and shape of the nanostructure. A critical analysis of the applications of all such catalytic systems in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling is presented in detail. Various factors (e.g., temperature) which affect the catalytic performance are also rationalized. The effects of binding mode, ligand framework, chalcogen donor atom and metal are also covered, along with all other factors that influence the catalytic potential of the systems. Various other aspects such as green catalysis (in aqueous medium and in air), and use of non-conventional (ultrasonic radiation) energy sources are analysed. Applications of heterogeneous and nanocatalytic systems apart from Suzuki coupling are also highlighted, and challenges and future scope are elaborated.

Single source precursor route for the first graphene oxide-Pd6P nanocomposite: application in electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction.

For the first time, Pd6P has been synthesised using a simple, straightforward and one-pot method i.e., thermolysis of a Pd(II) complex of a bidentate (P, N) organophosphorus ligand (anthracene-9-yl-CHN-CH2CH2-PPh2). The electrocatalyst (obtained after grafting nanospheres of Pd6P over layers of graphene oxide) shows high activity in electrochemical hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) with an overpotential of 133 mV to drive 10 mA cm-2 of cathodic current density. The GO-Pd6P nanocomposite is robust and effective for a continuous HER run for up to 16 hours.