Unlocking the impact of solvents on catalytic C–H bond oxidation by copper(II)–alkylperoxo complex

March 11, 2024

A significant breakthrough in catalysis has been achieved by Professor Jaeheung Cho and his team at UNIST's Department of Chemistry. They have developed a copper(II)–alkylperoxo complex with exceptional reactivity in decomposing strong carbon-hydrogen bonds (C−H bonds) by harnessing specific solvents. 
Through meticulous experiments, they synthesized the complex and subjected it to supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2), resulting in the most reactive metal–alkylperoxo peroxide compound to date. This catalyst enables selective oxidation of traditionally stable unactivated alkanes, marking a pivotal advancement in catalytic science. The team's exploration of various solvents further demonstrated the catalyst's unprecedented ability to break down resilient C−H bonds. 
The research, published in ACS Catalysis, is expected to drive progress in synthetic chemistry and find applications in environmental and industrial sectors, contributing to catalytic excellence and sustainable technology.

From: EurekAlert!