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Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation02:13

Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

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Alkenes undergo reduction by the addition of molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. Because the process generally occurs in the presence of a transition-metal catalyst, the reaction is called catalytic hydrogenation.
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
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Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation02:17

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Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes is a transition-metal catalyzed reduction of the double bond using molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. The mode of hydrogen addition follows syn stereochemistry.
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
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Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation02:24

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Introduction
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
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Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation01:28

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Unlike the easy catalytic hydrogenation of an alkene double bond, hydrogenation of a benzene double bond under similar reaction conditions does not take place easily. For example, in the reduction of stilbene, the benzene ring remains unaffected while the alkene bond gets reduced. Hydrogenation of an alkene double bond is exothermic and a favorable process. In contrast, to hydrogenate the first unsaturated bond of benzene, an energy input is needed; that is, the process is endothermic. This is...
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Catalysis02:50

Catalysis

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The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.
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Chemiosmosis01:32

Chemiosmosis

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Oxidative phosphorylation is a highly efficient process that generates large amounts of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the basic unit of energy that drives many cellular processes. Oxidative phosphorylation involves two processes— the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis.
Electron Transport Chain
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Hydrogen Production and Utilization in a Membrane Reactor
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Transfer hydrogenation catalysis in cells.

Samya Banerjee1, Peter J Sadler1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK P.J.Sadler@warwick.ac.uk.

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|August 30, 2021
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Organometallic catalysts mimic biological hydrogenation using transition metals like ruthenium and iridium. These catalysts show potential for novel metallodrugs by influencing cellular pathways.

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Light-driven Enzymatic Decarboxylation
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Area of Science:

  • Organometallic Chemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Catalysis

Background:

  • Biological hydrogenation typically relies on enzymes utilizing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(P)H) or flavin cofactors.
  • Industrial chemical transfer hydrogenation employs transition metal catalysts with small molecule hydride sources like formate or alcohols.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate organometallic half-sandwich complexes (RuII, OsII, RhIII, IrIII) as catalysts for hydrogenation in aqueous media.
  • To explore the potential of these catalysts in biological systems and their application in designing metallodrugs.

Main Methods:

  • Focus on half-sandwich organometallic complexes, including RuII, OsII, RhIII, and IrIII systems.
  • Catalysis of hydrogenation reactions involving biomolecules like pyruvate and quinones.
  • Assessment of catalyst activity and enantioselectivity in aqueous solutions and living cells.

Main Results:

  • Organometallic catalysts effectively hydrogenate biomolecules in aqueous media, producing species like H2 and H2O2.
  • Catalysts demonstrate activity within living cells, tolerating cellular poisons.
  • Reductive or oxidative stress can be induced by tuning the hydride source (formate or NAD(P)H).

Conclusions:

  • Organometallic catalysts offer a versatile platform for artificial hydrogenation, mimicking and potentially interfering with biological pathways.
  • The ability to induce cellular stress and photocatalytic activity opens avenues for novel metallodrug design.
  • These findings highlight the potential of engineered organometallic complexes in bio-inspired chemistry and medicine.