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Related Concept Videos

Catalysis02:50

Catalysis

27.6K
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.
27.6K
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation02:24

Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

8.1K
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.
8.1K
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation02:17

Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation

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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...
3.4K
Alkenes via Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes or Ketones: McMurry Reaction01:22

Alkenes via Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes or Ketones: McMurry Reaction

1.9K
The radical dimerization of ketones or aldehydes gives vicinal diols through a pinacol coupling reaction. However, the behavior of titanium metals used for the reaction as a source of electrons is unusual. When the reaction is carried out in the presence of titanium, diols can be isolated at low temperatures. Else titanium further reacts with diols, forming alkenes through the McMurry reaction.
1.9K
Acid-Catalyzed Hydration of Alkenes02:45

Acid-Catalyzed Hydration of Alkenes

15.0K
Alkenes react with water in the presence of an acid to form an alcohol. In the absence of acid, hydration of alkenes does not occur at a significant rate, and the acid is not consumed in the reaction. Therefore, alkene hydration is an acid-catalyzed reaction.
15.0K
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation02:13

Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation

12.6K
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...
12.6K

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Updated: Sep 11, 2025

Aqueous Droplets Used as Enzymatic Microreactors and Their Electromagnetic Actuation
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Aqueous Droplets Used as Enzymatic Microreactors and Their Electromagnetic Actuation

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Catalyst-free Ullmann coupling in aqueous microdroplets.

Ming-Yang Jia1, Yue-Wen Zhou1, Jun-Lei Yang1

  • 1Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, P.R. China.

Nature Communications
|August 12, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Catalyst-free Ullmann couplings are now achievable at room temperature using microdroplets. This novel method avoids metal catalysts and relies on hydroxyl radicals for efficient carbon-heteroatom bond formation.

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Area of Science:

  • Organic Chemistry
  • Reaction Mechanisms
  • Green Chemistry

Background:

  • Ullmann-type coupling reactions are vital in organic synthesis.
  • Traditional methods often require harsh conditions and metal catalysts.
  • Developing milder, catalyst-free alternatives is essential for broader applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate catalyst-free Ullmann couplings under mild conditions.
  • To investigate the mechanism of Ullmann reactions in microdroplets.
  • To establish a new strategy for sustainable organic synthesis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing MeOH/H2O microdroplets for Ullmann coupling reactions.
  • Performing reactions at room temperature without metal catalysts.
  • Conducting mechanistic studies to elucidate the reaction pathway.

Main Results:

  • Successful Ullmann couplings achieved at room temperature in microdroplets.
  • The reaction proceeds without the need for any metal catalysts.
  • Mechanistic studies identified hydroxyl radicals (•OH) as key drivers via a single-electron transfer pathway involving nitrogen-centered radicals.

Conclusions:

  • Ullmann couplings can be effectively performed under mild, catalyst-free conditions in microdroplets.
  • Hydroxyl radicals play a crucial role in mediating these reactions through a single-electron transfer mechanism.
  • This research offers a sustainable and efficient approach to Ullmann-type couplings.