Catalysts for Fine Chemical Synthesis

Catalysts for Fine Chemical Synthesis

Series Editors:

Eric Derouane

(Universidade do Algarve, Faro, and Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon, Portugal)

Ivan V. Kozhevnikov

(University of Liverpool, UK)

Stanley M Roberts

(University of Manchester, UK)


Catalysts are increasingly used by chemists engaged in fine chemical synthesis within both industry and academia. Today, there is a huge choice of high-tech catalysts that adds enormously to the repertoire of synthetic possibilities. However, catalysts are occasionally capricious, sometimes difficult to use and almost always require both skill and experience in order to achieve optimal results. This series offers practical help for advanced undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students, as well as experienced chemists in industry and academia working with catalysts in organic and organometallic synthesis. It features tested and validated procedures, authoritative reviews on classes of catalysts, and assessments of all types of catalysts.


Catalysts for Fine Chemical Synthesis

Volume 5


Regio- and Stereo-Controlled Oxidations and Reductions


Editors: Stanley M. Roberts and John Whittall, University of Manchester, UK


Volume 5 in the series Catalysts for Fine Chemical Synthesis describes new procedures for the regio- and stereo-controlled transformations of compounds involving oxidation or reduction reactions. A wide range of catalysts are described, including organometallic systems, biocatalysts and biomimetics. Conversions that are discussed include:


* asymmetric hydrogenation of alkenes, enones, ene-esters and ene-acids

* asymmetric reduction of ketones

* imine reduction and reductive amination

* oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols

* hydroxylation, epoxidation and related reactions

* oxidation of ketones to lactones or enones

* oxidative C-C coupling

* oxidation of sulfides and sulfoxides


Regio- and Stereo-Controlled Oxidations and Reductions is a "how-to" practical guide with protocols detailed by the authors who have discovered the new transformations. The source of starting materials and reagents, hints, tips and safety advice (where appropriate) are given to ensure, as far as possible, that the procedures are reproducible. Comparisons to alternative methodology are given and relevant references to the primary literature are cited. In order to put the different procedures into proper context, the editors provide a short overview of recent developments in the field of oxidations and reductions.


This book is an important text for practising synthetic organic chemists in industry and academia.