Chapter 5 - Synthesis of Heterocycles With Iron Salts as Sustainable Metal Catalysts

Abstract

This chapter rationalizes the different reactivity of the iron salts in the synthesis of a wide variety of heterocycles. It starts by presenting a perspective of the iron inception in universe and its presence on Earth. It then explains its properties as a catalyst based on three different reactivities with organic molecules: (1) σ-bond activation, (2) π-bond activation, and (3) radical processes. The first two approaches usually involve iron(III) species while the radical process generally involves iron(II) species. An analysis of the methodology and reaction mechanisms is provided to clarify its chemical behavior.