Methyltrioxorhenium catalysis in nonconventional solvents: a great catalyst in a safe reaction medium

ChemSusChem. 2010 May 25;3(5):524-40. doi: 10.1002/cssc.201000022.

Abstract

The requirement that chemical processes are sustainable, reflected in waste reduction and the use of safe reagents and reaction conditions, is becoming even more stringent as a result of pressure by society and governments to preserve the environment and protect human health. Catalysis offers numerous benefits related to green chemistry, including lowered energetic reaction requirements; catalytic, rather than stoichiometric, amounts of materials; increased selectivity; lowered consumption of processing and separation agents; and, in many cases, the use of less-toxic compounds. Our research group has for a long time been studying methyltrioxorhenium in the oxyfunctionalization of different substrates, by using H(2)O(2) or its urea-hydrogen peroxide complex as the primary oxidant. In this Review paper we aim to provide a full literature account on the catalytic activity and selectivity of methyltrioxorhenium in the oxyfunctionalization reaction, either in nonconventional solvents or under solvent-free conditions, with a particular emphasis on the use of ionic liquids as green reaction media.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Green Chemistry Technology / methods*
  • Ionic Liquids / chemistry
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Solvents / chemistry*

Substances

  • Ionic Liquids
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Solvents
  • methyltrioxorhenium VII