The activation of dioxygen by metal ions has both synthetic potential and biological relevance. Dioxygen is the cleanest oxidant for use in emission-free technologies to minimize pollution of the environment. The book gives a survey of those catalyst systems based on metal complexes which have been discovered and studied in the last decade. They activate molecular oxygen and effect the oxidation of various organic compounds under mild conditions. Much of the recent progress is due to a search for biomimetic catalysts that would duplicate the action of metalloenzymes. Mechanistic aspects are emphasized throughout the book. An introductonary chapter reviews the chemistry of transition metal dioxygen complexes, which are usually the active intermediates in the catalytic reactions discussed. Separate chapters are devoted to oxidation of saturated, unsaturated and aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, catechols, oxo-compounds, phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen compounds.

The subject of dioxygen activation and homogeneous catalytic oxidation by metal complexes has been in the focus of attention over the last 20 years. The widespread interest is illustrated by its recurring presence among the sessions and subject areas of important international conferences on various aspects of bioinorganic and coordination chemistry as well as catalysis. The most prominent examples are ICCC, ICBIC, EUROBIC, ISHC, and of course the ADHOC series of meetings focusing on the subject itself. Similarly, the number of original and review papers devoted to various aspects of dioxygen activation are on the rise. This trend is due obviously to the relevance of catalytic oxidation to biological processes such as dioxygen transport, and the action of oxygenase and oxidase enzymes related to metabolism. The structural and functional modeling of metalloenzymes, particularly of those containing iron and copper, by means of low-molecular complexes of iron, copper, ruthenium, cobalt, manganese, etc., have provided a wealth of indirect information helping to understand how the active centers of metalloenzymes may operate. The knowledge gained from the study of metalloenzyme models is also applicable in the design of transition metal complexes as catalytsts for specific reactions. This approach has come to be known as biomimetic or bioinspired catalysis and continues to be a fruitful and expanding area of research.

This monograph consists of the proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on the Activation of Dioxygen and Homogeneous Catalytic Oxidation, held in College Station, Texas, March 14-19, 1993. It contains an introductory chapter authored by Professors D. H. R. Barton and D. T. Sawyer, and twenty-nine chapters describing presentations by the plenary lecturers and invited speakers. One of the invited speakers, who could not submit a manuscript for reasons beyond his control, is represented by an abstract of his lecture. Also included are abstracts of forty-seven posters contributed by participants in the symposium. Readers who may wish to know more about the subjects presented in abstract form are invited to communicate directly with the authors of the abstracts. This is the fifth international symposium that has been held on this subject. The first was hosted by the CNRS, May 21-29, 1979, in Bendor, France (on the Island of Bandol). The second meeting was organized as a NATO workshop in Padova, Italy, June 24-27, 1984. This was followed by a meeting in Tsukuba, Japan, July 12-16, 1987. The fourth symposium was held at Balatonfured, Hungary, September 10-14, 1990. The sixth meeting is scheduled to take place in Delft, The Netherlands (late Spring, 1996); the organizer and host will be Professor R. A. Sheldon.

Aerobic organisms have evolved to utilise the intrinsic oxidising power of oxygen from the atmosphere. This so-called 'activation' of oxygen is often catalysed by a heme-containing enzyme. This book highlights the many and varied catalytic activities of O2-dependent heme–iron enzymes, including monoxygenases and cytochrome P450, dioxygenases, oxidases and model heme systems. Dioxygen-dependent Heme Enzymes will be a useful resource for postgraduate students and researchers in biochemistry and metallobiology working in, or moving into, research areas involving heme proteins.

Presents state-of-the-art information concerning the syntheses of valuable functionalized organic compounds from alkanes, with a focus on simple, mild, and green catalytic processes Alkane Functionalization offers a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art of catalytic functionalization of alkanes under mild and green conditions. Written by a team of leading experts on the topic, the book examines the latest research developments in the synthesis of valuable functionalized organic compounds from alkanes. The authors describe the various modes of interaction of alkanes with metal centres and examine theoxidative alkane functionalization upon C-O bond formation. They address the many types of mechanisms, discuss typical catalytic systems and highlight the strategies inspired by biological catalytic systems. The book also describes alkane functionalization upon C-heteroatom bond formation as well as oxidative and non-oxidative approaches. In addition, the book explores non-transition metal catalysts and metal-free catalytic systems and presents selected types of functionalization of sp3 C-H bonds pertaining to substrates other than alkanes. This important resource: Presents a guide to the most recent advances concerning the syntheses of valuable functionalized organic compounds from alkanes Contains information from leading experts on the topic Offers information on the catalytic functionalization of alkanes that allows for improved simplicity and sustainability compared to current multi-stage industrial processes Explores the challenges inherent with the application of alkanes as starting materials for syntheses of added value functionalized organic compounds Written for academic researchers and industrial scientists working in the fields of coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry, catalysis, organic synthesis and green chemistry, Alkane Functionalization is an important resource for accessing the most up-to-date information available in the field of catalytic functionalization of alkanes.

The use of secondary interactions for the activation of non-reactive substrates constitutes a new and modern approach in catalysis. This first comprehensive treatment of this important research field covers the entire field and reveals the links between the various chemical disciplines. It thus adopts an interdisciplinary approach, making it of interest to the whole chemical community. A must for organic, inorganic, catalytic and complex chemists, as well as those working with/on organometallics.

Oxidation reactions are an important chemical transformation in both academia and industry. Among the major advances in the field has been the development of catalytic processes, which are not only selective and efficient, but also allow the replacement of common stoichiometric oxidants with molecular oxygen, ideally from air at atmospheric pressure. This results in processes with higher atom efficiency, where water is the only side product in line with the principles of green chemistry. Focusing on the use of molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant, this book covers recent advances in both heterogeneous and homogeneous systems, with and without metals and on the “taming” of the highly reactive oxygen gas by use of micro-flow reactors and membranes. A useful reference for industrial and academic chemists working on oxidation processes, as well as green chemists.

Oxidative catalysis by metalloporphyrin systems occupies a prominent role in the current research in the fields of chemical and biological catalysis. Our particular interest and approach has been to collect in the same volume papers dealing with both the chemical and biological aspects of the reactivity of heme systems because of the realization that a better understanding of the complementary discipline can be extremely useful for the researchers from either field. The current progress of the research on synthetic metalloporphyrin catalysts has led to the development of several systems that are able to reproduce the heme-enzyme mediated oxygenation and oxidation reactions, at least in terms of reaction types, mechanisms and often rates. These achievements have stimulated the of creating metalloporphyrin catalysts which are both ambitious project efficient and stable enough to become competitive for large-scale industrial processes. Although this project is still far from being realized, the efforts in this direction parallel those aimed at the application of heme enzymes to chemical technologies, e. g. for the mild, selective oxidation of organics or the detoxification of pollutants. Both the two approaches will be advantageous because while the enzyme systems can achieve selectivities which are probably unattainable by synthetic catalysts, the latter can be active under experimental conditions that would readily inactivate the enzymes.

A comprehensive book that explores nitrogen fixation by using transition metal-dinitrogen complexes Nitrogen fixation is one of the most prominent fields of research in chemistry. This book puts the focus on the development of catalytic ammonia formation from nitrogen gas under ambient reaction conditions that has been recently repowered by some research groups. With contributions from noted experts in the field, Transition Metal-Dinitrogen Complexes offers an important guide and comprehensive resource to the most recent research and developments on the topic of nitrogen fixation by using transition metal-dinitrogen. The book is filled with the information needed to understand the synthesis of transition metal-dinitrogen complexes and their reactivity. This important book: -Offers a resource for understanding nitrogen fixation chemistry that is essential for explosives, pharmaceuticals, dyes, and all forms of life -Includes the information needed for anyone interested in the field of nitrogen fixation by using transition metal-dinitrogen complexes -Contains state-of-the-art research on synthesis of transition metal-dinitrogen complexes and their reactivity in nitrogen fixation -Incorporates contributions from well-known specialists and experts with an editor who is an innovator in the field of dinitrogen chemistry Written for chemists and scientists with an interest in nitrogen fixation, Transition Metal-Dinitrogen Complexes is a must-have resource to the burgeoning field of nitrogen fixation by using transition metal-dinitrogen complexes.