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Updated: May 16, 2026
08:25
Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
Published on: January 17, 2020
Regio- and Site-Selective Organic Synthesis With Single-Atom Catalysts
Xin Shang1, Boyu Yu1,2, Xiang-Ting Min1
1CAS Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Applied Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|May 14, 2026
Summary
Single-atom catalysts (SACs) offer a heterogeneous approach to selective organic synthesis, overcoming limitations of traditional homogeneous methods. SACs provide tunable electronic properties and confined environments for precise regio- and site-control in various chemical transformations.
Area of Science:
- Catalysis
- Materials Science
- Organic Chemistry
Background:
- Selective organic synthesis is crucial for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials.
- Homogeneous catalysts with metal-ligand complexes offer selectivity but have limited tuning ranges and require extensive screening.
- Ligand design and substituent modification are time-consuming and costly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in single-atom catalysts (SACs) for regio- and site-selective transformations.
- To discuss the principles of selectivity control offered by SACs.
- To outline future opportunities in SACs-catalyzed reactions.
Main Methods:
- Heterogeneous catalysis using single-atom catalysts (SACs).
- Utilizing support-derived handles for selectivity control.
- Tuning electronic structures through metal-support interactions.
Main Results:
- SACs enable highly regio- and site-selective hydroformylation, hydrosilylation, hydroboration, hydrogenation, and click chemistry.
- SACs offer easy separation and recycling compared to homogeneous catalysts.
- Support-derived features provide confined microenvironments and tunable electronic properties.
Conclusions:
- SACs present a powerful alternative to homogeneous catalysts for achieving high selectivity in organic synthesis.
- The unique properties of SACs, including metal-support interactions and confined environments, are key to their selectivity.
- Further research into SACs holds significant promise for developing more efficient and sustainable chemical processes.
Keywords:
heterogeneous catalysisorganic synthesisregioselectivitysingle‐atom catalystsite‐selectivityMore Related Videos
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