Sustainable metal catalysis
The advancement of sustainable, more efficient, and selective organic transformations represents a fundamental objective in chemical research. In this context, catalysis is a key technology, as approximately 80% of all chemical and pharmaceutical products are synthesized using catalysts. Notably, organometallic compounds have become well-established synthetic tools for the production of both fine and bulk chemicals. The activity and selectivity of the catalyst are significantly influenced by the choice of the central metal and the structural design of the surrounding ligands. Over recent decades, numerous transition-metal-based catalysts, particularly those incorporating precious metals such as palladium, rhodium, iridium, and ruthenium, have demonstrated high efficiency across a broad range of applications.
However, the limited availability and high cost of these metals underscore the necessity for more economical and environmentally benign alternatives. A promising approach to addressing this challenge lies in the increased utilization of non-precious metal catalysts, e.g. based on first-row transition metals, such as iron, cobalt, and manganese as well as earth-abundant metals. We are interested in the utilization of pincer-type complexes in transfer hydrogenation reactions and their application in synthetically useful reactions.
Alkali and alkaline earth metals as catalysts
We also study alkali and alkaline earth metals as catalysts e.g. in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from renewables and CO2 under mild conditions. More information on this can be found under CO2 utilisation.
You want to learn more? Do not hesitate to contact Thomas. For further details on our work on sustainable metal catalysis see:
Publikationen
Synthesis of Amidines Via P(III)/P(V)=O Redox Catalyzed In Situ Formation of Imidoyl Chlorides From Amides
V. Medvaric, J. Paradies, T. Werner, Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis (2025).
Metal-Free Reduction of Nitrous Oxide via PIII/PV═O Cycling: Mechanistic Insights and Catalytic Performance
R. Zhou, V. Medvaric, T. Werner, J. Paradies, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2025).
Tuneable reduction of CO2 – organocatalyzed selective formylation and methylation of amines
C. Ren, C. Terazzi, T. Werner, Green Chemistry 26 (2024) 439–447.
Phosphonium-Salt-Catalyzed N-Methylation and N-Formylation of Amines with CO2
C. Ren, A. Spannenberg, T. Werner, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 12 (2024) 10969–10977.
Organocatalytic Stereospecific Appel Reaction
J. Tönjes, L. Kell, T. Werner, Organic Letters 25 (2023) 9114–9118.
Synthesis of Bifunctional Phosphonium Salts Bearing Perfluorinated Side Chains and Their Application in the Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from Epoxides and CO 2
C. Ren, A. Spannenberg, T. Werner, Asian Journal of Organic Chemistry 11 (2022).
Base-Free Catalytic Wittig-/Cross-Coupling Reaction Sequence as Short Synthetic Strategy for the Preparation of Highly Functionalized Arylbenzoxepinones
T. Werner, A. Grandane, L. Pudnika, I. Domraceva, R. Zalubovskis, Synthesis 53 (2021) 3545–3554.
Poly(methylhydrosiloxane) as a reductant in the catalytic base-free Wittig reaction
J. Tönjes, L. Longwitz, T. Werner, Green Chemistry 23 (2021) 4852–4857.
Reduction of Activated Alkenes by PIII/PV Redox Cycling Catalysis
L. Longwitz, T. Werner, Angewandte Chemie 132 (2020) 2782–2785.
Reduction of Activated Alkenes by PIII/PV Redox Cycling Catalysis
L. Longwitz, T. Werner, Angewandte Chemie International Edition 59 (2020) 2760–2763.
Plasma‐Assisted Immobilization of a Phosphonium Salt and Its Use as a Catalyst in the Valorization of CO 2
Y. Hu, S. Peglow, L. Longwitz, M. Frank, J.D. Epping, V. Brüser, T. Werner, ChemSusChem 13 (2020) 1825–1833.
Benzoxepinones: A new isoform-selective class of tumor associated carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
A. Grandane, A. Nocentini, T. Werner, R. Zalubovskis, C.T. Supuran, Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry 28 (2020).
Phosphetane Oxides as Redox Cycling Catalysts in the Catalytic Wittig Reaction at Room Temperature
L. Longwitz, A. Spannenberg, T. Werner, ACS Catalysis 9 (2019) 9237–9244.
Organocatalytic Chlorination of Alcohols by P(III)/P(V) Redox Cycling
L. Longwitz, S. Jopp, T. Werner, The Journal of Organic Chemistry 84 (2019) 7863–7870.
Recent advances in catalytic Wittig-type reactions based on P(III)/P(V) redox cycling
L. Longwitz, T. Werner, Pure and Applied Chemistry 91 (2019) 95–102.
Intramolecular Base-Free Catalytic Wittig Reaction: Synthesis of Benzoxepinones
A. Grandane, L. Longwitz, C. Roolf, A. Spannenberg, H. Murua Escobar, C. Junghanss, E. Suna, T. Werner, The Journal of Organic Chemistry 84 (2019) 1320–1329.
Mechanistic Study on the Addition of CO2 to Epoxides Catalyzed by Ammonium and Phosphonium Salts: A Combined Spectroscopic and Kinetic Approach
J. Steinbauer, C. Kubis, R. Ludwig, T. Werner, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering 6 (2018) 10778–10788.
Immobilized bifunctional phosphonium salts as recyclable organocatalysts in the cycloaddition of CO2 and epoxides
J. Steinbauer, L. Longwitz, M. Frank, J. Epping, U. Kragl, T. Werner, Green Chemistry 19 (2017) 4435–4445.
Organocatalyzed Synthesis of Oleochemical Carbonates from CO2and Renewables
H. Büttner, J. Steinbauer, C. Wulf, M. Dindaroglu, H.-G. Schmalz, T. Werner, ChemSusChem 10 (2017) 1076–1079.
Organocatalyzed Reduction of Tertiary Phosphine Oxides
M.-L. Schirmer, S. Jopp, J. Holz, A. Spannenberg, T. Werner, Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis 358 (2016) 26–29.
Highly functionalized alkenes produced from base-free organocatalytic Wittig reactions: (E)-3-benzylidenepyrrolidine-2,5-dione, (E)-3-benzylidene-1-methylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione and (E)-3-benzylidene-1-tert-butylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione
M.-L. Schirmer, A. Spannenberg, T. Werner, Acta Crystallographica Section C Structural Chemistry 72 (2016) 504–508.
Novel Base-Free Catalytic Wittig Reaction for the Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Alkenes
M.-L. Schirmer, S. Adomeit, A. Spannenberg, T. Werner, Chemistry - A European Journal 22 (2016) 2458–2465.
Phospholane-Catalyzed Wittig Reaction
T. Werner, M. Hoffmann, S. Deshmukh, European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2015 (2015) 3286–3295.
Crystal structure of diethyl (E)-2-[(benzofuran-2-yl)methylidene]succinate
M.-L. Schirmer, A. Spannenberg, T. Werner, Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications 71 (2015) o872–o872.
Scope and Limitation of the Microwave-Assisted Catalytic Wittig Reaction
M. Hoffmann, S. Deshmukh, T. Werner, European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2015 (2015) 4532–4543.
Recycling of Phosphorus-Based Organocatalysts by Organic Solvent Nanofiltration
J. Großeheilmann, H. Büttner, C. Kohrt, U. Kragl, T. Werner, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering 3 (2015) 2817–2822.
Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from Epoxides and Carbon Dioxide by Using Bifunctional One-Component Phosphorus-Based Organocatalysts
H. Büttner, J. Steinbauer, T. Werner, ChemSusChem 8 (2015) 2655–2669.
Recyclable Bifunctional Polystyrene and Silica Gel-Supported Organocatalyst for the Coupling of CO2with Epoxides
C. Kohrt, T. Werner, ChemSusChem 8 (2015) 2031–2034.
Highly Efficient Polymer-Supported Catalytic System for the Valorization of Carbon Dioxide
W. Desens, C. Kohrt, M. Frank, T. Werner, ChemSusChem 8 (2015) 3815–3822.
First Base-Free Catalytic Wittig Reaction
M.-L. Schirmer, S. Adomeit, T. Werner, Organic Letters 17 (2015) 3078–3081.
First Microwave-Assisted Catalytic Wittig Reaction
T. Werner, M. Hoffmann, S. Deshmukh, European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2014 (2014) 6873–6876.
First Enantioselective Catalytic Wittig Reaction
T. Werner, M. Hoffmann, S. Deshmukh, European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2014 (2014) 6630–6633.
Phosphorus-based Bifunctional Organocatalysts for the Addition of Carbon Dioxide and Epoxides
T. Werner, H. Büttner, ChemSusChem 7 (2014) 3268–3271.
Phosphonium Salt Catalyzed Addition of Diethylzinc to Aldehydes
T. Werner, A. Riahi, H. Schramm, Synthesis 2011 (2011) 3482–3490.
Phosphonium Salt Organocatalysis
T. Werner, Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis 351 (2009) 1469–1481.
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