Ligand-Free Ultrasmall Recyclable Iridium(0) Nanoparticles for Regioselective Aromatic Hydrogenation of Phosphine Oxide Scaffolds: An Easy Access to New Phosphine Ligands.

Herein, we developed the recyclable ligand-free iridium (Ir)-hydride based Ir nanoparticles (NPs) for the first regioselective partial hydrogenation of P -substituted naphthalenes. Both the isolated and in situ generated NPs are catalytically active. A control nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study revealed the presence of metal-surface-bound hydrides, most likely formed from Ir species.

Ultrasmall Cu Nanoparticles Stabilized on Surface of HPMC: An Efficient Catalyst for Fast and Organic Solvent-Free Tandem Click Chemistry in Water.

A simple and environmentally benign technology for synthesizing ultrasmall Cu nanoparticles (NPs) on the surface of the food additive hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and their application in completely organic solvent-free tandem alkyne-azide cycloaddition reactions were reported. The NP catalyst was thoroughly characterized by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis for its morphology, particle size distribution, chemical composition, and oxidation state analyses. The NP catalyst was highly efficient, affording products in 10-45 min.

Phosphine Ligand-Free Bimetallic Ni(0)Pd(0) Nanoparticles as a Catalyst for Facile, General, Sustainable, and Highly Selective 1,4-Reductions in Aqueous Micelles.

Phosphine ligand-free bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) composed of Ni(0)Pd(0) catalyze highly selective 1,4-reductions of enones, enamides, enenitriles, and ketoamides under aqueous micellar conditions. A minimal amount of Pd (Ni/Pd = 25:1) is needed to prepare these NPs, which results in reductions without impacting - and -benzyl, aldehyde, nitrile, and nitro functional groups. A broad range of substrates has been studied, including a gram-scale reaction.

Shielding Effect of Nanomicelles: Stable and Catalytically Active Oxidizable Pd(0) Nanoparticle Catalyst Compatible for Cross-Couplings of Water-Sensitive Acid Chlorides in Water.

Under the shielding effect of nanomicelles, a sustainable micellar technology for the design and convenient synthesis of ligand-free oxidizable ultrasmall Pd(0) nanoparticles (NPs) and their subsequent catalytic exploration for couplings of water-sensitive acid chlorides in water is reported. A proline-derived amphiphile, PS-750-M, plays a crucial role in stabilizing these NPs, preventing their aggregation and oxidation state changes. These NPs were characterized using C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy to evaluate the carbonyl interactions of PS-750-M with Pd.

Photoassisted Charge Transfer Between DMF and Substrate: Facile and Selective N,N-Dimethylamination of Fluoroarenes.

A reversible Van der Waals complex formation between the electron-deficient fluorinated aromatic ring and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) molecules followed by light irradiation resulted in charge transfer (CT) process. The complex was stabilized by ammonium formate and further decomposed to form the C-N bond. Control experiments revealed that the simultaneous S Ar pathway also contributes to product formation.

Fast Amide Couplings in Water: Extraction, Column Chromatography, and Crystallization Not Required.

In the micelle of PS-750-M, the presence of 3° amides from the surfactant proline linker mimics dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, and -methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The resultant micellar properties enable extremely fast amide couplings mediated by 1-ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)carbodiimide (without hydroxybenzotriazole), rather than expensive and specialized coupling agents. Conditions have been developed wherein products precipitate, and isolation by filtration completely avoids the use of organic solvent.

A Glimpse into Green Chemistry Practices in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

Invited for this month's cover is the research group of Sachin Handa at the University of Louisville and Wilfried Braje at AbbVie. The image shows how green chemistry in industry and micellar catalysis are contributing toward the environmental sustainability. The Minireview itself is available at 10.

A Glimpse into Green Chemistry Practices in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

In this Minireview, the importance and implementation of green chemistry practices in the pharmaceutical industry are illustrated. With notable examples, some of the most important industrial organic transformations are discussed along with their applications in the synthesis of drug molecules. A brief comparison between traditional unsustainable methods and modern green methods is made to shed light on the economic and environmental benefits of greener methods.