A novel combination of Pd(OAc)(2)/pyridine/MS3A catalyzes the aerobic oxidation in toluene of a variety of primary and secondary alcohols into the corresponding aldehydes and ketones in high yields. Various substituents and protecting groups are compatible with this oxidation. The ca. 2:3 ratio of O(2) uptake to product yield is observed, whereas in the absence of MS3A, the ratio is ca. 1:1, suggesting the in situ formation of H(2)O(2) and its decomposition by MS3A into water and oxygen. A catalytic cycle including the formation of a Pd(II)-alcoholate followed by beta-elimination of a Pd(II)H species and a carbonyl compound and then the formation of a Pd(II)OOH species is proposed.

A heterogenized Pd catalyst, Pd(II)-hydrotalcite (palladium(II) acetate-pyridine complex supported by hydrotalcite) catalyzes the aerobic oxidation in toluene of a variety of primary and secondary alcohols into the corresponding aldehydes and ketones in high yields using atmospheric pressure of air as a sole oxidant under mild conditions. This catalyst is also effective for the oxidation of allylic alcohols, especially such as geraniol and nerol, without any isomerization of an alkenic part. The catalyst can be easily prepared from all commercially available reagents and reused several times.

New C2-symmetric tetrafluorobenzobarrelene ligands were prepared and applied successfully to the rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric addition of arylboronic acids to aromatic aldehydes giving chiral diarylmethanols in high yield with high enantioselectivity.

Asymmetric addition of arylboroxines to cyclic N-sulfonyl ketimines proceeded in the presence of a rhodium catalyst coordinated with a chiral diene ligand to give high yields of benzosultams, where a triaryl-substituted stereogenic carbon center was created with high enantioselectivity (93-99% ee). The chiral benzosultams were transformed into the chiral (triaryl)methylamines by breaking the cyclic structure.

A rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of sodium tetraarylborates to beta,beta-disubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones is described. Highly efficient asymmetric catalysis has also been achieved by employing a readily available chiral diene ligand, leading to the construction of quaternary carbon stereocenters with high enantioselectivity.