The carbon-sulfur bond formation reaction is of paramount importance for functionalized materials design, as well as for biochemical applications. The use of expensive metal-based catalysts and the consequent contamination with trace metal impurities are challenging drawbacks of the existing methodologies. Here, we describe the first environmentally friendly metal-free photoredox pathway to the...

An oxidative olefination reaction between aliphatic primary amines and benzylic sp(3) C-H bonds has been achieved using N-bromosuccinimide as catalyst and tert-butyl hydroperoxide as oxidant. The olefination proceeds under mild metal-free conditions through direct deamination and benzylic C-H bond activation, and provides easy access to biologically active 2-styrylquinolines with (E)-configurat...

The heterocyclic ionic liquid-catalyzed direct oxidative amination of benzylic sp(3) C-H bonds via intermolecular sp(3) C-N bond formation for the synthesis of N-alkylated azoles under metal-free conditions is reported for the first time. The catalyst 1-butylpyridinium iodide can be recycled and reused with similar efficacies for at least eight cycles.

Reduced porous graphene oxide as a metal free catalyst was selected for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene. It showed the best catalytic performance compared with other carbon materials (routinely reduced graphene oxide, graphite powder and oxidized carbon nanotubes) and commercial iron oxide.

A camphor based chiral phosphonium hydrido borate zwitterion was synthesised and successfully applied in the enantioselective hydrogenation of imines with selectivities up to 76% ee. The high stability of the novel chiral FLP-system enables effective recycling of the metal-free catalyst.

The connection between metal catalysis and the initiation step in autoxidation is emphasized. The formation of free radicals occurs in reactions involving not only various valency states, but also oxygen-complexes of the catalyst. The kinetics of the initial phase of the metal-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of linoleic acid are examined in detail, and a number of mechanisms postulated. The rate co...

For the first time, noble-metal-free nickel phosphide (Ni2P) was used as an excellent catalyst precursor for water oxidation catalysis. The lowest onset potential was observed at ∼1.54 V (vs. RHE) and a Tafel slope of 60 mV dec(-1) was obtained in alkaline solution (pH = 13.6).

Nitrogen (5.61 at%) doped reduced graphene oxide synthesized via a facile method was demonstrated as a superior metal-free catalyst for activation of peroxymonosulfate. Codoping with boron would further enhance the catalytic activity and the stability, providing a promising green material for environmental remediation.

The photocatalyzed synthesis of sulfoxides from alkenes and thiols has been carried out using Eosin Y. This is a metal-free method which uses a low catalyst loading, atmospheric oxygen as the oxidant, and visible light conditions (green light). A mechanism has been proposed that is consistent with the experimental results.

The first metal-free reduction of lignin model compounds is described. Using inexpensive Et3SiH, PMHS and TMDS hydrosilanes as reductants, α-O-4 and β-O-4 linkages are reduced to primary alcohols and phenols under mild conditions using B(C6F5)3 as an efficient catalyst.