Recent organic transformations with silver carbonate as a key external base and oxidant

Abstract

Silver carbonate (Ag2 CO3 ), a common transition metal-based inorganic carbonate, is widely utilized in palladium-catalyzed C–H activations as an oxidant in the redox cycle. Silver carbonate can also act as an external base in the reaction medium, especially in organic solvents with acidic protons. Its superior alkynophilicity and basicity make silver carbonate an ideal catalyst for organic reactions with alkynes, carboxylic acids, and related compounds. This review describes recent reports of silver carbonate-catalyzed and silver carbonate-mediated organic transformations, including cyclizations, cross-couplings, and decarboxylations.