Catalytic Strategies for Chemoselective Organic Transformations
Summary
Catalytic chemoselectivity lies at the heart of modern synthetic chemistry, enabling the targeted modification of one functional group in the presence of multiple reactive sites. Advances in catalyst design—from organometallic complexes to enzyme-inspired systems—have transformed transesterification, acylation and cross-coupling processes, offering milder conditions, enhanced turnover and minimal by-product formation. Contemporary strategies exploit fine-tuning of ligand environments, cooperative multi-site activation and dynamic kinetic resolution to steer reactivity with precision. Metal-centred Lewis acids, base-metal catalysts bearing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and bio-mimetic assemblies have extended the scope of chemoselective transformations to include unprotected substrates, polyfunctional bio-molecules and renewable feedstocks. Such innovations underpin applications in pharmaceutical assembly, polymer modification and sustainable process chemistry, reinforcing global efforts to reduce energy inputs and chemical waste while enhancing step economy.
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Catalytic Strategies for Chemoselective Organic Transformations publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in catalytic strategies for chemoselective organic transformations across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Catalyst: Substance that increases reaction rate without being consumed.
Chemoselectivity: The preferential reaction of a catalyst with one functional group in the presence of others.
Transesterification: The exchange of ester groups between an ester and an alcohol.
Acylation: Introduction of an acyl group into a molecule.
Nucleoside: A compound comprising a nitrogenous base linked to a sugar moiety.
References
- Bulky magnesium( ii ) and sodium( i ) bisphenoxide catalysts for chemoselective transesterification of methyl (meth)acrylates. Chemical Science (2023).
- Chemoselective Acylation of Nucleosides. Chemistry - A European Journal (2022).
- Recent advances in the transesterification of β-keto esters. RSC Advances (2021).
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