Optimization of metal catalysts for oxidation reactions

Metal-catalyzed oxidation reactions are of upmost importance for synthetic processes in industry as well as for biological processes in nature. This talk will discuss approaches for both these “worlds”, and how respective catalytic systems can be optimized. Synthetic chemistry, especially the synthesis of ligands and metal complexes, and applications of the corresponding metal-based compounds, will be covered. On the one hand, oxidation reactions with metal complexes can be optimized by a tuning of the respective redox potentials of the metals. This can be achieved by changing the electronic properties of the metal-bound ligands, e.g. by substitution with electron-withdrawing groups containing the element fluorine. On the other hand, for reactions that do not require high selectivity or a delicate tuning of the redox potential, sophisticated ligand design is not even necessary. Here, a straightforward screening approach can facilitate decision making in reaction design (choice of solvent, redox-active metal, reaction time and temperature). Small reaction volumes are applied during the optimization steps in order to reduce chemical waste.