Carbon oxygenate transformations by actinide compounds and catalysts

Abstract

Carbon oxygenates represent an increasingly important class of feedstock in the development of a sustainable chemical economy. Their catalytic transformation into value-added chemicals is a crucial target, because it would reduce our ties to fossil fuels and non-renewable resources. In this Review, we discuss the unique reactivity offered by actinide metal complexes with respect to s-, p- and d-block metals resulting from the chemical properties particular to these metals. This reactivity is governed by large ionic radii, high coordination numbers, kinetic lability, the involvement of f orbitals in bonding, and single-electron redox processes or σ-bond metathesis, which are distinct from the oxidative addition and reductive elimination pathways commonly seen for catalysts derived from d-block metals. We conclude with a discussion of the current progress in the use of these complexes towards catalytic transformations of oxygenated hydrocarbons. The unique reactivity of actinide metal complexes may offer opportunities to convert carbon oxygenates into value-added chemicals. This Review describes progress towards using these complexes as catalysts in such transformations with the ultimate aim of reducing our reliance on non-renewable resources.