Palladium-catalyzed carbonylation reaction has surfaced as a robust tool for insertion of the carbonyl group into organic molecules, and in the last decades enormous progress has been made. Nowadays, a plethora of methodologies is available to synthesize all kinds of carbonyl compounds. However, the focus has shifted during recent years to address rising concerns related to developing safe, cost-efficient, and more sustainable methodologies. The use of different carbon monoxide (CO) precursors/sources, avoiding handling of highly toxic and flammable gaseous carbon monoxide, and substituting nonrenewable solvents for those derived from renewable feedstock have contributed to aim these goals. In this review, we will discuss the advent of the application of renewable solvents to improve the sustainability and environmentally benign nature of Pd catalyzed carbonylation reactions.

Neste trabalho, o emprego de cloreto férrico como um eficiente catalisador em reações de glicosilação de açúcares na presença de álcoois alílicos e propargílicos é descrito. Os glicosídios correspondentes foram obtidos com rendimentos de moderados a bons. Este novo procedimento apresenta maior seletividade quando comparado a métodos clássicos encontrados na literatura. As principais características desse método simples incluem condições de reação não perigosas, quantidade de catalisador baixa, bom rendimento e seletividade anomérico elevada.

In this work, the use of ferric chloride as an efficient catalyst in glycosylation reactions of sugars in the presence of allyl and alkynyl alcohols is described. The corresponding glycosides were obtained with moderate to good yields. This new procedure presented greater selectivity when compared to classic methods found in the literature. Principal features of this simple method include non-hazardous reaction conditions, low-catalyst loading, good yields and high anomeric selectivity.

Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um método eficiente para a síntese de selenetos de diorganoíla e β-seleno aminas empregando Zn, quantidades catalíticas de ZnO nanoestruturado e líquidos iônicos (LI) como solventes recicláveis. Este sistema ZnO/LI apresentou alta eficiência nesta transformação, levando à formação dos produtos desejados em bons rendimentos.

We have developed an efficient method for the synthesis of diorganyl selenides and β-seleno amines using Zn, catalytic amounts of ZnO nanopowder, as a catalyst and ionic liquid as a recyclable solvent. This ZnO/ionic liquid system shows high efficiency in catalyzing these transformations with the formation of the desired products in high yields.