A highly facile, straightforward synthesis of 1-(3-indolyl)-tetrahydroisoquinolines was developed using either simple copper or iron catalysts. N-protected and unprotected tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQ) could be used as starting materials. Extension of the substrate scope of the pronucleophile from indoles to pyrroles and electron-rich arenes was realized. Additionally, methoxyphenylation is no...

The direct a-arylation of cyclic and acyclic ethers with azoles has been achieved, which features a novel iron-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) process. This practical oxidative method allowed the efficient C2-alkylation of a variety of (benzo)azoles constituting straightforward access to heterocycles of utmost medicinal significance and highlighting the convenient use of feedstoc...

The catalysis of n-butane isomerization over iron-promoted tungstated zirconia (F1.2WZ) and platinum–iron-promoted tungstated zirconia (P/F1.2WZ) catalysts was studied and correlated to the catalyst characterization results. In the singly promoted F1.2WZ catalyst, we suggest that the iron species promotes the n-butane isomerization reaction through a redox effect. The formation of W–O–Fe linkag...

The selective oxidation of methane to methanol is a key challenge in catalysis. Iron and copper modified ZSM-5 catalysts are shown to be effective for this reaction using H2O2 as the oxidant under continuous flow operation. Co-impregnation of ZSM-5 with Fe and Cu by chemical vapour impregnation yielded catalysts that showed high selectivity to methanol (> 92% selectivity, 0.5 % conversion), as ...

The direct α-arylation of cyclic and acyclic ethers with azoles has been achieved, which features a novel iron-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) process. This practical oxidative method allowed the efficient C2-alkylation of a variety of (benzo)azoles constituting straightforward access to heterocycles of utmost medicinal significance and highlighting the convenient use of feedstoc...

The use of noble metal catalysts in homogeneous catalysis has been well established. Due to their price and limited availability, there is growing interest in the substitution of such precious metal complexes with readily available and bio-relevant catalysts. In particular, iron is a "rising star" in catalysis. Herein, we present a general and selective iron-catalyzed monoisomerization of olefi...

We present a successive microfluidic approach to create and characterize hierarchical catalyst structures consisting of metal-decorated nanoparticles that are assembled into porous microparticles ("supraball" catalysts). First, using a silicon microreactor, platinum nanoparticles with a very narrow size distribution are grown and immobilized uniformly onto iron oxide/silica core-shell nanospher...

Nature is a valuable source of inspiration in the design of catalysts, and various approaches are used to elucidate the mechanism of hydrogenases, the enzymes that oxidize or produce H2. In FeFe hydrogenases, H2 oxidation occurs at the H-cluster, and catalysis involves H2 binding on the vacant coordination site of an iron centre. Here, we show that the reversible oxidative inactivation of this ...

Nanostructured carbon-based materials, such as nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube arrays, Co3O4/nitrogen-doped graphene hybrids and carbon nanotube-graphene complexes have shown respectable oxygen reduction reaction activity in alkaline media. Although certainly promising, the performance of these materials does not yet warrant implementation in the energy conversion/storage devices utilizing basic...

Acceptorless dehydrogenation of alcohols, an important organic transformation, was accomplished with welldefined and inexpensive iron-based catalysts supported by a cooperating PNP pincer ligand. Benzylic and aliphatic secondary alcohols were dehydrogenated to the corresponding ketones in good isolated yields upon release of dihydrogen. Primary alcohols were dehydrogenated to esters and lactone...