Reactions of Hydrocarbons and other C‒H Compounds

Dear Colleagues,

One of the most important processes for organic chemistry, as well as for the chemical and petroleum industry, is breaking bonds C–H and C–C in various compounds, and primarily, in hydrocarbons. Among hydrocarbons, saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) are especially attractive as substrates for chemical transformations. However, these substances are known to be the less reactive organic compounds. In the last decades, new reactions of hydrocarbons under mild conditions have been discovered. For example, these reactions include alkane transformations in superacid media, interactions with metal atoms and ions, and interactions with radicals and carbenes. The development of coordination metal-complex catalysis led to the discovery of the ability of various types of molecules, including molecular hydrogen, carbon monoxide, oxygen, nitrogen, olefins, acetylenes, aromatic compounds, to take part in various reactions in homogeneous solutions. New catalytic systems based on metal complexes have been discovered, which allow us to introduce various groups into hydrocarbons, as well as other C–H compounds. See, for example: A. E. Shilov, G. B. Shul’pin, “Activation and Catalytic Reactions of Saturated Hydrocarbons in the Presence of Metal Complexes”, Kluwer, New York, Boston, Dordrecht, London, Moscow, 2002; G. B. Shul’pin, “C–H functionalization: thoroughly tuning ligands at a metal ion, a chemist can greatly enhance catalyst’s activity and selectivity”, Perspective, Dalton Trans., 2013, 42, 12794–12818; G. B. Shul’pin, “New Trends in Oxidative Functionalization of Carbon–Hydrogen Bonds: A Review”, Catalysts, 2016, 6, 50.

Papers which describe various transformations of saturated, aromatic, olefinic hydrocarbons, as well as alcohols, ketones accompanied by the C–H and C–C bond splitting will be presented in this Special Issue. Theoretical investigations and DFT calculations, are welcome. Full comprehensive reviews and mini-reviews, covering various fields of catalytic and non-catalytic transformations describing new unusual catalysts, new unusual solvents, new methods of inducing reactions (by irradiation, etc.) will be very helpful for the reader.

Prof. Georgiy B. Shul’pin
Guest Editor

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