Reactivity of Polar Organometallic Compounds in Unconventional Reaction Media: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Developing new green solvents in designing chemical products and processes or successfully employing the already existing ones is one of the key subjects in green chemistry and is especially important in organometallic chemistry, which is an interdisciplinary field. Can we advantageously also use unconventional reaction media in place of current harsh organic solvents for polar organometallic compounds? This microreview critically analyses the state of the art with regard to this topic and showcases recent developments and breakthroughs that are becoming new research directions in this field. Because metals cover a vast swath of the Periodic Table the content is organised into three sections discussing the reactivity of organometallic compounds of s-, p- and d-block elements in unconventional solvents. Stepping towards ideal polar organometallic processes! This microreview provides reliable evidence of the unstoppable transition of polar organometallic chemistry towards greener protocols, mainly represented by unconventional solvents. This contributes to make organometallic chemistry even more sustainable and prepares the ground for new, stimulating research.