Premium
The Applications of (Para)formaldehyde in Metal‐Catalyzed Organic Synthesis
Author(s) -
Li Wanfang,
Wu XiaoFeng
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
advanced synthesis and catalysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.541
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1615-4169
pISSN - 1615-4150
DOI - 10.1002/adsc.201500753
Subject(s) - paraformaldehyde , chemistry , formaldehyde , reagent , organic synthesis , catalysis , methylene , formylation , organic chemistry , syngas , combinatorial chemistry
Paraformaldehyde (PFA), with the chemical formula C x H y O z , an infinite solid form of formaldehyde, is a very useful reagent in classical organic reactions. Numerous applications have been explored both in the chemical industry and organic chemistry research laboratories. In this general review, we have summarized the main achievements in the use of paraformaldehyde in organic reactions with transition metals as the catalysts. In these methodologies, paraformaldehyde has been applied as methylene blocks, hydroxymethylation reagents, CO source, syngas surrogate, hydrogen donor or acceptor, formylation and methylation reagents. Additionally, in order to make this review systematic, recent reported organocatalyzed transformations of paraformaldehyde have been included as well.