Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

Oxidation–Reduction Reactions

Acid-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides

Acid-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides

Epoxides that are three-membered ring systems are more reactive than other cyclic and acyclic ethers. The high reactivity of epoxides originates from the strain present in the ring. This ring strain acts as a driving force for epoxides to undergo ring-opening reactions either with halogen acids or weak nucleophiles in the presence of mild acid. The acid catalyst converts the epoxide oxygen, a poor leaving group, into an oxonium ion, a better leaving group, making the reaction feasible. The...

Base-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides

Base-Catalyzed Ring-Opening of Epoxides

Due to their highly strained structures, epoxides can readily undergo ring-opening reactions through nucleophilic substitution, either in the presence of an acid or a base. The nucleophilic substitution reactions in the presence of acid are called acid-catalyzed ring-opening reactions, and nucleophilic substitution reactions in the presence of a base are called base-catalyzed ring-opening reactions. Epoxides undergo base-catalyzed ring-opening reactions in the presence of a strong nucleophile...

What is Natural Selection?

What is Natural Selection?

Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.

Base-Catalyzed Aldol Addition Reaction

Base-Catalyzed Aldol Addition Reaction

As depicted in Figure 1, base-catalyzed aldol addition involves adding two carbonyl compounds in aqueous sodium hydroxide to form a β-hydroxy carbonyl compound.

Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes

Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes

In a dehydration reaction, a hydroxyl group in an alcohol is eliminated along with the hydrogen from an adjacent carbon. Here, the products are an alkene and a molecule of water. Dehydration of alcohols is generally achieved by heating in the presence of an acid catalyst. While the dehydration of primary alcohols requires high temperatures and acid concentrations, secondary and tertiary alcohols can lose a water molecule under relatively mild conditions.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Nickel(II) <i>N</i>-Heterocyclic Carbene Complex for the Hydrogenation of 2-Acetylpyridine under Mild Conditions.

Inorganics·2026

Same author

Cu-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions of Enamines and Terminal Alkynes: Access of Propargylamines as Neurodegenerative Disorder Agents.

Asian journal of organic chemistry·2026

Same authorSame journal

Copper(II) NHC pincer complexes containing 1,2,3-triazole units: Synthesis, structure and catalysis for C─N bond forming reactions.

Tetrahedron letters·2026

Same author

Cu-NHC Complex for Chan-Evans-Lam Cross-Coupling Reactions of <i>N</i>-Heterocyclic Compounds and Arylboronic Acids.

European journal of organic chemistry·2026

Same author

Correction: Adhikari et al. Synthesis and Characterization of Symmetrical <i>N</i>-Heterocyclic Carbene Copper(II) Complexes-An Investigation of the Influence of Pyridinyl Substituents. <i>Molecules</i> 2024, <i>29</i>, 3542.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Novel Kojic Acid-Thiadiazole-Urea Hybrids: Potent Tyrosinase Inhibitors With Enhanced Anti-Melanogenic Activity.

Archiv der Pharmazie·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Preparation of a Corannulene-functionalized Hexahelicene by CopperI-catalyzed Alkyne-azide Cycloaddition of Nonplanar Polyaromatic Units

Preparation of a Corannulene-functionalized Hexahelicene by CopperI-catalyzed Alkyne-azide Cycloaddition of Nonplanar Polyaromatic Units

Published on: September 18, 2016

Copper(II)-catalyzed selective reduction of chalcones using phenylsilane.

Mahshid Attarroshan¹, Bryan Chacon Vazquez¹, Caden R Andrews¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, United States.

Tetrahedron Letters

|February 12, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A new copper catalyst system efficiently reduces diverse chalcones using phenylsilane under mild conditions. This method offers a sustainable and straightforward approach for selective alkene reductions in organic synthesis.

Keywords:

Copper catalysis Phenyl silane Selective reduction

More Related Videos

Positron Emission Tomography Using 64-Copper as a Tracer for the Study of Copper-Related Disorders

Positron Emission Tomography Using 64-Copper as a Tracer for the Study of Copper-Related Disorders

Published on: April 28, 2023

Studying Copper Nanoparticle-Induced Programmed Cell Death in Bacteria

Studying Copper Nanoparticle-Induced Programmed Cell Death in Bacteria

Published on: May 16, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Preparation of a Corannulene-functionalized Hexahelicene by CopperI-catalyzed Alkyne-azide Cycloaddition of Nonplanar Polyaromatic Units

Preparation of a Corannulene-functionalized Hexahelicene by CopperI-catalyzed Alkyne-azide Cycloaddition of Nonplanar Polyaromatic Units

Published on: September 18, 2016

Positron Emission Tomography Using 64-Copper as a Tracer for the Study of Copper-Related Disorders

Positron Emission Tomography Using 64-Copper as a Tracer for the Study of Copper-Related Disorders

Published on: April 28, 2023

Studying Copper Nanoparticle-Induced Programmed Cell Death in Bacteria

Studying Copper Nanoparticle-Induced Programmed Cell Death in Bacteria

Published on: May 16, 2025

Area of Science:

Organic Chemistry
Catalysis
Green Chemistry

Background:

Chalcones are versatile synthetic intermediates.
Selective alkene reduction is crucial in organic synthesis.
Mild and sustainable catalytic methods are highly desirable.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a chemoselective reduction method for diverse chalcones.
To utilize a copper-catalyst system under mild conditions.
To establish a sustainable alternative for alkene reductions.

Main Methods:

Employing a copper(II) acetate catalyst.
Using phenylsilane (PhSiH3) as a hydride source.
Utilizing 4,5-diazafluoren-9-one (DAFO) as a ligand.

Main Results:

Successful chemoselective reduction of electronically diverse chalcones.
Application to substrates with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups.
Moderate to good yields achieved under optimized conditions.

Conclusions:

The developed copper-catalyst system is effective for chalcone reduction.
The method is mild, straightforward, and sustainable.
It presents an attractive alternative for selective alkene reductions in organic synthesis.