Carboxylic acids as substrates in homogeneous catalysis.

Area of Science:

• Organic Chemistry
• Catalysis
• Synthetic Methodology

Background:

• Carboxylic acid groups are common in organic molecules.
• Activated derivatives are traditionally used for derivatization and carbon framework construction.
• Recent advances enable direct use of carboxylic acids without activation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review catalytic transformations of carboxylic acids.
• To highlight derivatives accessible in situ.
• To encourage further development and application of these methods.

Main Methods:

• Catalytic transformations of carboxylic acids.
• In situ generation of derivatives.
• Organometallic catalysis involving acyl and carboxylate complexes.

Main Results:

• Carboxylic acids can serve as synthetic equivalents for acyl, aryl, or alkyl halides and organometallic reagents.
• Catalytic cycles can release carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide, forming diverse organometallic species.
• A wide range of product classes are accessible from carboxylic acids.

Conclusions:

• Catalytic methods significantly enhance the utility of carboxylic acids in organic synthesis.
• These transformations offer multifaceted reaction pathways.
• The review invites further research and application of these novel synthetic strategies.