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Updated: May 15, 2026

Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
Organic small-molecule-catalyzed carbonylation reactions
Mao-Lin Yang1, Le-Cheng Wang1,2, Heifei Yang1,2
1Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. Albert-Einstein-Str. 29a 18059 Rostock Germany Xiao-Feng.Wu@Catalysis.de xwu2020@dicp.ac.cn.
Abstract:
C1 chemistry is important from both academic research and industrial application perspectives, and it is extensively studied with metal catalysts. Considering the advantages of organic small-molecule catalysts, it is highly attractive to explore their use as catalysts in carbonylation chemistry. This review examines organic small-molecule-catalyzed carbonylation reactions from an advanced catalysis perspective, with a particular emphasis on N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis and oxygen, sulfur, selenium, nitrogen and phosphine main-group species-based catalysts to further expand the conceptual and synthetic landscape of sustainable carbonylation. These advances define carbonylation as a catalyst designed reaction and highlight opportunities for future organic small molecule driven development.
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