The series Topics in Organometallic Chemistry presents critical overviews of research results in organometallic chemistry. As our understanding of organometallic structure, properties and mechanisms increases, new ways are opened for the design of organometallic compounds and reactions tailored to the needs of such diverse areas as organic synthesis, medical research, biology and materials science. Thus the scope of coverage includes a broad range of topics in pure and applied organometallic chemistry, where new breakthroughs are being achieved that are of significance to a larger scientific audience. The individual volumes of Topics in Organometallic Chemistry are thematic. Review articles are generally invited by the volume editors.

This thesis presents detailed mechanistic studies on a series of important C-H activation reactions using combined computational methods and mass spectrometry experiments. It also provides guidance on the design and improvement of catalysts and ligands. The reactions investigated include: (i) a nitrile-containing template-assisted meta-selective C-H activation, (ii) Pd/mono-N-protected amino acid (MPAA) catalyzed meta-selective C-H activation, (iii) Pd/MPAA catalyzed asymmetric C-H activation reactions, and (iv) Cu-catalyzed sp3 C-H cross-dehydrogenative-coupling reaction. The book reports on a novel dimeric Pd-M (M = Pd or Ag) model for reaction (i), which successfully explains the meta-selectivity observed experimentally. For reaction (ii), with a combined DFT/MS method, the author successfully reveals the roles of MPAA ligands and a new C-H activation mechanism, which accounts for the improved reactivity and high meta-selectivity and opens new avenues for ligand design. She subsequently applies ion-mobility mass spectrometry to capture and separate the [Pd(MPAA)(substrate)] complex at different stages for the first time, providing support for the internal-base model for reaction (iii). Employing DFT studies, she then establishes a chirality relay model that can be widely applied to MPAA-assisted asymmetric C-H activation reactions. Lastly, for reaction (iv) the author conducts detailed computational studies on several plausible pathways for Cu/O2 and Cu/TBHP systems and finds a reliable method for calculating the single electron transfer (SET) process on the basis of benchmark studies.

Johannes G. de Vries: Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions.- Gregory T. Whiteker and Christopher J. Cobley: Applications of Rhodium-Catalyzed Hydroformylation in the Pharmaceutical, Agrochemical and Fragrance Industries.- Philippe Dupau: Ruthenium-catalyzed Selective Hydrogenation for Flavor and Fragrance Applications.- Hans-Ulrich Blaser, Benoit Pugin and Felix Spindler: Asymmetric Hydrogenation.- Ioannis Houpis: Case Study: Sequential Pd-catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions; Challenges on Scale-up.- Adriano F. Indolese: Pilot Plant Scale Synthesis of an Aryl-Indole - Scale up of a Suzuki Coupling.- Per Ryberg: Development of a Mild and Robust Method for Palladium Catalysed Cyanation on Large Scale.- Cheng-yi Chen: Application of Ring Closing Metathesis Strategy to the Synthesis of Vaniprevir (MK-7009), a 20-Membered Macrocyclic HCV Protease Inhibitor.

This book introduces the reader to the state of the art in nanostructured anode and cathode electrocatalysts for low-temperature acid and alkaline fuel cells. It explores the electrocatalysis of anode (oxidation of organic molecules) and cathode (oxygen reduction) reactions. It also offers insights into metal-carbon interactions, correlating them with the catalytic activity of the electrochemical reactions. The book explores the electrocatalytic behaviour of materials based on noble metals and their alloys, as well as metal-metal oxides and metal-free nanostructures. It also discusses the surface and structural modification of carbon supports to enhance the catalytic activity of electrocatalysts for fuel-cell reactions.

Iron catalysts in organic synthesis are strongly in demand because iron is non-toxic, inexpensive and the most abundant transition metal in the earth, although their use is still limited compared with that of rare, precious metals such as palladium, ruthenium and rhodium. This thesis describes the first practical example of iron catalysis in the carbon hydrogen bond activation reaction to synthesized fused aromatic ring compounds. By using a unique combination of iron catalyst and dichloride oxidant, various kind of naphthalene and phenanthrene derivatives were synthesized via annulation reaction with alkynes including direct C H bond activation process. This achievement opens the new possibility of low-valent iron catalysis and expands synthetic methods for a sustainable society."

This work describes novel, effective hydrogen-bond (HB) donor catalysts based on a known bifunctional tertiary amine-thiourea, a privileged structure, which has been proven to be one of the most widely used organocatalysts. These HB donor catalysts derived from quinazoline and benzothiadiazine were initially synthesized as novel HB donors with their HB-donating abilities being measured by analytical methods. They were found to be effective for a variety of asymmetric transformations including Michael reactions of a, b- unsaturated imides and hydrazination reactions of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds. Thiourea catalysts that have an additional functional group are also described. Specifically, thioureas that bear a hydroxyl group were synthesized and subsequently used as novel bifunctional organocatalysts for catalytic, asymmetric Petasis-type reactions involving organoboronic acids as nucleophiles. These addition reactions were difficult to achieve using existing organocatalysts. One of the developed catalytic methods can be applied to the synthesis of biologically interesting peptide- derived compounds possessing unnatural vinyl glycine moieties. These findings introduce new criteria required for the development of organocatalysts for asymmetric reactions, thus making a significant contribution to the field of organocatalysis.

Photosensitization and photocatalysis refer to processes by which permanent chemical transformations are induced on substrates (organic/inorganic) by radiation to which the substrates themselves are transparent. Such transformations can be highly specific, very efficient, and occur under mild conditions. Herein lies the power of photochemical methods for possible applications in the field of conversion and storage of solar energy. This book provides a recent survey of the progress in this important area in catalysis, with an emphasis on inorganic complexes and organometallic compounds as the key light aborbers. The book is organized in three parts: fundamentals, followed by applications. Discussions cover a wide variety of photosensitized or photocatalyzed reactions: decomposition of water, reduction of CO2 and CO; spectral sensitization in photoelectrochemical cells; transformations (oxidation, reduction, isomerization, hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, carbonylation, etc.) of organics such as alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, etc. In view of the variety of systems (sensitizers, substrates) and the topics covered, the volume is unique in the field of photochemistry and will appeal to academic and industrial researchers in various subdisciplines of chemistry, material science and catalysis.

Advances in Quantum Methods and Applications in Chemistry, Physics, and Biology includes peer-reviewed contributions based on carefully selected presentations given at the 17th International Workshop on Quantum Systems in Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. New trends and state-of-the-art developments in the quantum theory of atomic and molecular systems, and condensed matter (including biological systems and nanostructures) are described by academics of international distinction.

Molecular ruthenium catalysts, during the last decade, have provided new indispensable synthetic methods that cannot be promoted by other catalysts, and they now constitute an emerging field for the selective preparation of fine chemicals. The major reaction types for carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond formation, most of them with atom economy, are comprehensively discussed by leading experts. The authors highlight the most important discoveries in ruthenium catalysis and propose activation processes, some of them being still controversial. They illustrate the innovation and usefulness in organic synthesis of specific reactions including carbocyclization, cyclopropanation, olefin metathesis, carbonylation, oxidation, transformation of silicon containing substrates, and show novel reactions operating via vinylidene intermediates, radical processes, inert bonds activation as well as catalysis in water. Therefore, the reader will receive a balanced view of this rapidly developing field.

In this thesis Colm Duffy reviews the chemistry and biology of stable lipoxin analogues. Colm has prepared for the first time ever a pyridine-containing LXA4 analogue in enantiomerically pure form. Biological evaluation determined that both epimers at the benzylic position suppress key cytokines known to be involved in inflammatory disease, with the (R)-epimer proving most efficacious. Moreover the author developed an excellent route to a related thiophene-containing analogue that also showed interesting biological activity. Both routes have inspired further work in the synthesis of further heteroaromatic analogues for biological evaluation. "

Elucidating Organic Reaction Mechanisms using photo-CIDNP Spectroscopy, by Martin Goez. Parahydrogen Induced Polarization by Homogeneous Catalysis: Theory and Applications, by Kerstin Munnemann et al. Improving NMR and MRI Sensitivity with Parahydrogen, by R. Mewis & Simon Duckett. The Solid-state Photo-CIDNP Effect, by Jorg Matysik et al. Parahydrogen-induced Polarization in Heterogeneous Catalytic Processes, by Igor Koptyug et al. Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Enhanced NMR Spectroscopy, by U. Akbey & H. Oschkinat. Photo-CIDNP NMR Spectroscopy of Amino Acids and Proteins, by Lars T. Kuhn."

Masakatsu Shibasaki, Motomu Kanai, Shigeki Matsunaga, and Naoya Kumagai: Multimetallic Multifunctional Catalysts for Asymmetric Reactions.- Takao Ikariya: Bifunctional transition metal-based molecular catalysts for asymmetric syntheses.- Chidambaram Gunanathan and David Milstein: Bond Activation by Metal-Ligand Cooperation: Design of Green Catalytic Reactions Based on Aromatization-Dearomatization of Pincer Complexes.- Madeleine C. Warner, Charles P. Casey, and Jan-E. Backvall: Shvo s Catalyst in Hydrogen Transfer Reactions.- Noritaka Mizuno, Keigo Kamata, and Kazuya Yamaguchi: Liquid-Phase Selective Oxidation by Multimetallic Active Sites of Polyoxometalate-Based Molecular Catalysts.- Pingfan Li and Hisashi Yamamoto: Bifunctional Acid Catalysts for Organic Synthesis.- Jun-ichi Ito, Hisao Nishiyama: Bifunctional Phebox Complexes for Asymmetric Catalysis."

Well tailored metal catalysts are catalysts of the new generation resulting from scientific development at the boundary between homogeneous and hetero- geneous chemistry. The main factors involved in making tailored metal catalysts are not those of traditional impregnation in which the chemistry is in general unknown and ill-defined, or of simple ion exchange which involves long-range forces with little control on the local structure through definite and special bond direction. Tailored Metal Catalysts thus has a rather different emphasis from normal review publications in the field of catalysis. Here we concentrate more on the distinct surface chemistry and catalytic properties of important established materials with well-characterized active structures or precursors, although at the same time providing a systematic presentation of relevant data. Many pioneering works have been undertaken in the field of tailored metal catalysts since the early research on polymer-attached homogeneous metal complexes by the British Petroleum Company Ltd. and the Mobil Oil Corpora- tion around 1969; transition metal complexes attached on polymers by Grubbs (1971), Heinemann (1971), Manassen (1971), Pittman (1971), Bursian et al. (1972), Kagan (1973), Bailar (1974); transition metal complexes attached on inorganic oxides by Allum et al. (1972), Ballard (1973), Candlin and Thomas (1974), Murrell (1974), Yermakov (1974); metal carbonyls/polymers by Moffat (1970); metal carbonyls/inorganic oxides by Parkyns (1965), Davie et al. (1969), Banks et al. (1969), Howe (1973), Burwell (1975); metal carbonyl clusters/ polymers by Colhnan (1972); metal carbonyl clusters/inorganic oxides by Robertson and Webb (1974), Anderson (1974), Smith et al. (1975).

This book focuses on the electronic properties of transition metals in coordination environments. These properties are responsible for the unique and intricate activity of transition metal sites in bio- and inorganic catalysis, but also pose challenges for both theoretical and experimental studies. Written by an international group of recognized experts, the book reviews recent advances in computational modeling and discusses their interplay using experiments. It covers a broad range of topics, including advanced computational methods for transition metal systems; spectroscopic, electrochemical and catalytic properties of transition metals in coordination environments; metalloenzymes and biomimetic compounds; and spin-related phenomena. As such, the book offers an invaluable resource for all researchers and postgraduate students interested in both fundamental and application-oriented research in the field of transition metal systems.

The book about homogeneous catalysis with metal complexes deals with the description of the reductive-oxidative, metal complexes in a liquid phase (in polar solvents, mainly in water, and less in nonpolar solvents). The exceptional importance of the redox processes in chemical systems, in the reactions occuring in living organisms, the environmental processes, atmosphere, water, soil, and in industrial technologies (especially in food-processing industries) is discussed. The detailed practical aspects of the established regularities are explained for solving the specific practical tasks in various fields of industrial chemistry, biochemistry, medicine, analytical chemistry and ecological chemistry. The main scope of the book is the survey and systematization of the latest advances in homogeneous catalysis with metal complexes. It gives an overview of the research results and practical experience accumulated by the author during the last decade.

Heterogeneous catalysis provides the backbone of the world's chemical and oil industries. The innate complexity of practical catalytic systems suggests that useful progress should be achievable by investigating key aspects of catalysis by experimental studies on idealised model systems. Thin films and supported clusters are two promising types of model system that can be used for this purpose, since they mimic important aspects of the properties of practical dispersed catalysts. Similarly, appropriate theoretical studies of chemisorption and surface reaction clusters or extended slab systems can provide valuable information on the factors that underlie bonding and catalytic activity. This volume describes such experimental and theoretical approaches to the surface chemistry and catalytic behaviour of metals, metal oxides and metal/metal oxide systems. An introduction to the principles and main themes of heterogeneous catalysis is followed by detailed accounts of the application of modern experimental and theoretical techniques to fundamental problems. The application of advanced experimental methods is complemented by a full description of theoretical procedures, including Hartree-Fock, density functional and similar techniques. The relative merits of the various approaches are considered and directions for future progress are indicated.

Kyle A. Grice, Margaret L. Scheuermann and Karen I. Goldberg: Five-Coordinate Platinum(IV) Complexes.- Jay A. Labinger and John E. Bercaw: The Role of Higher Oxidation State Species in Platinum-Mediated C-H Bond Activation and Functionalization.- Joy M. Racowski and Melanie S. Sanford: Carbon-Heteroatom Bond-Forming Reductive Elimination from Palladium(IV) Complexes.- Helena C. Malinakova: Palladium(IV) Complexes as Intermediates in Catalytic and Stoichiometric Cascade Sequences Providing Complex Carbocycles and Heterocycles.- Allan J. Canty and Manab Sharma: h1-Alkynyl Chemistry for the Higher Oxidation States of Palladium and Platinum.- David C. Powers and Tobias Ritter: Palladium(III) in Synthesis and Catalysis.- Marc-Etienne Moret: Organometallic Platinum(II) and Palladium(II) Complexes as Donor Ligands for Lewis-Acidic d10 and s2 Centers.

In this dissertation, Marie-Helene Larraufie develops original radical and pallado-catalyzed methodologies to enable the synthesis of several classes of bioactive nitrogen-containing heterocycles. New radical cascades employing the N-acylcyanamide moiety offer straightforward routes to quinazolinones and guanidines, as well as new insights into the mechanism of homolytic aromatic substitutions. In parallel, Larraufie expands the scope of visible light photoredox catalysis to the ring opening of epoxides and aziridines, thus providing new sustainable alternatives for the generation of radicals. Furthermore, in a collaborative effort with the Catellani group, the author investigates dual palladium/norbornene catalysis. First, she develops a C-amination coupling variant of the Catellani reaction with unprotected amines which provides an expeditious route to phenanthridines. Then, she examines the influence of the chelating effect on Pd(IV) intermediates reactivity with the help of experimental studies and DFT calculations. The work in this thesis has resulted in numerous publications in high impact journals.The clarity and depth of the experimental section will be useful for students and researchers working in this field.

This volume is a description of the current knowledge on the different metal-oxo and metal-peroxo species involved in catalytic oxidations. The series contains critical reviews of the present position and future trends, and short and concise reports written by the world's renowned experts.

The original properties of mesoporous molecular sieves are so unique that the design of most existing catalysts could be reconsidered. It might indeed be of interest to introduce MMS either as a support or as the active phase, merely on the basis of their high surface areas, narrow pore size distribution and flexibility in composition. The recent literature provides examples of MMS based catalysts of many types such as acid-base solids, supported metals and supported oxides, mixed oxides, anchored complexes and clusters, grafted organic functional groups and others. Examples of all these developments are documented in the present proceedings including some spectacular new proposals. The new metallic (Pt) mesophases are specially worth mentioning because they represent a new approach to producing non-supported highly dispersed metals.

In these proceedings the reader will find feature articles and regular papers from many worldwide groups, covering all aspects of synthesis, physical characterization and catalytic reactivity of MMS and their chemically modified forms. It is actually remarkable that this recent development brought together an even broader spectrum of scientists from traditionally unrelated fields such as those of liquid crystals, surfactants, sol-gels, amorphous oxides and mixed oxides, solid state, adsorbents and heterogeneous catalysts. Obviously, this is a fast-growing research area which triggers the imagination and creativity at the cross-road between material design, molecular surface tailoring and catalytic applications.

In this thesis, applications of aminoacylation ribozymes named flexizymes are described. Flexizymes have the following unique characteristics: (i) substrate RNA is recognized by two consecutive base pairs between the 3'-end of substrate RNA and the 3'-end of the flexizyme; (ii) these base pairs can be substituted with other base pairs; and (iii) various activated amino acids can be used as substrates including both canonical and noncanonical amino acids. This flexible aminoacylation of RNAs by flexizymes was used to label endogenous tRNAs to be removed, and in vitro selection using the tRNA-depleted library enabled the discovery of the novel interaction between the microRNA precursor and metabolites. Flexizymes are also used to prepare various aminoacyl-tRNAs bearing mutations at the 3'-end to engineer the translation machinery and to develop the orthogonal translation machinery. The first part of the research demonstrated that SELEX is appropriate for discovering the interaction between small RNA and ligands, and suggested that more RNA motif binding to small molecules exists in small RNAs. The second part opened a door to new opportunities for in vitro synthetic biology involving the engineering of the genetic codes and translation machineries. This research also indicated the great potential of aminoacylation by flexizymes to be applied in various fields of RNA research, which is beneficial for RNA researchers.

The book explains the principles and fundamentals of photocatalysis and highlights the current developments and future potential of the green-chemistry-oriented applications of various inorganic, organic, and hybrid photocatalysts. The book consists of eleven chapters, including the principles and fundamentals of heterogeneous photocatalysis; the mechanisms and dynamics of surface photocatalysis; research on TiO2-based composites with unique nanostructures; the latest developments and advances in exploiting photocatalyst alternatives to TiO2; and photocatalytic materials for applications other than the traditional degradation of pollutants, such as carbon dioxide reduction, water oxidation, a complete spectrum of selective organic transformations and water splitting by photocatalytic reduction. In addition, heterogeneized polyoxometalate materials for photocatalytic purposes and the proper design of photocatalytic reactors and modeling of light are also discussed. This book appeals to a wide readership of the academic and industrial researchers and it can also be used in the classroom for undergraduate and graduate students focusing on heterogeneous photocatalysis, sustainable chemistry, energy conversion and storage, nanotechnology, chemical engineering, environmental protection, optoelectronics, sensors, and surface and interface science. Juan Carlos Colmenares is a Professor at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland. Yi-Jun Xu is a Professor at the State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, China.

Stereoselective Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Alkenes via Torquoselectivity-Controlled Olefination of Carbonyl Compounds with Ynolates, by Mitsuru Shindo and Kenji Matsumoto.- Stereoselective Synthesis of Z-Alkenes, by Woon-Yew Siau, Yao Zhang and Yu Zhao.- Stereoselective Synthesis of Mono-fluoroalkenes, by Shoji Hara.- Recent Advances in Stereoselective Synthesis of 1,3-Dienes, by Michael De Paolis, Isabelle Chataigner and Jacques Maddaluno.- Selective Olefination of Carbonyl Compounds via Metal-Catalyzed Carbene Transfer from Diazo Reagents, by Yang Hu and X. Peter Zhang.- Selective Alkene Metathesis in the Total Synthesis of Complex Natural Product, by Xiaoguang Lei and Houhua Li.- Olefination Reactions of Phosphorus-Stabilized Carbon Nucleophiles, by Yonghong Gu and Shi-Kai Tian.- Alkene Synthesis Through Transition Metal-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of N-Tosylhydrazones, by Yan Zhang and Jianbo Wang.

This thesis discusses the use of asymmetric organic catalysis for the direct enantioselective synthesis of complex chiral molecules, and by addressing the many aspects of both vinylogy and atropisomerism, it appeals to researchers and scholars interested in both areas. Organocatalysis is a relatively modern and "hot" topic in the chemical community; it is constantly expanding and its use has been extended to interesting areas like vinylogous reactivity and atropisomerism. Vinylogous systems are very important for their synthetic applications but also pose a number of challenges, the most notable of which are their reduced reactivity and the reduced stereocontrol at these positions. On the other hand, atropisomeric systems are even more important because of the huge potential they have as drugs, ligands and catalysts. Chemists have only recently "recognized" the importance of these two areas and are focusing their efforts on studying them and the challenges they pose. This thesis offers an extensive introduction on the general aspects of chirality and organocatalysis and an equally extensive experimental section that allow nonexperts to understand the discussion section and reproduce the experiments.

This book is devoted to various aspects of self-assembly of gold nanoparticles at liquid-liquid interfaces and investigation of their properties. It covers primarily two large fields: (i) self-assembly of nanoparticles and optical properties of these assemblies; and (ii) the role of nanoparticles in redox electrocatalysis at liquid-liquid interfaces. The first part aroused from a long-lasting idea to manipulate adsorption of nanoparticles at liquid-liquid with an external electric field to form 'smart' mirrors and/or filters. Therefore, Chapters 3 to 5 are dedicated to explore fundamental aspects of charged nanoparticles self-assembly and to investigate optical properties (extinction and reflectance) in a through manner. Novel tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-assisted method leads to self-assembly of nanoparticles into cm-scale nanofilms or, so-called, metal liquid-like droplets (MeLLDs) with remarkable optical properties. The second part (Chapters 6 to 8) clarifies the role of nanoparticles in interfacial electron transfer reactions. They demonstrate how nanoparticles are charged and discharged upon equilibration of Fermi levels with redox couples in solution and how it can be used to perform HER and ORR. Finally, Chapter 9 gives a perspective outlook, including applications of suggested methods in fast, one-step preparation of colloidosomes, SERS substrates as well as pioneer studies on so-called Marangony-type shutters drive by the electric field.