Currently,
the development of environmentally benign and effective
catalytic reactions for organic synthesis based on low-cost and abundant
metals is one of the central research goals in modern chemistry. This
review covers the advancements in homogeneously catalyzed reactions
using pincer complexes of manganese, iron, and cobalt featuring aryl
and pyridine central backbones. Specifically, C–C coupling
reactions and hydrogenation reactions of alkenes, alkynes, aldehydes,
ketones, esters, nitriles, CO2, carbamates, ureas, cyclic
imides and azo compounds are described, including their scope and
mechanistic insights. Overall, this review emphasizes that the combination
of inexpensive and readily available metals, such as Mn, Fe, and Co,
with pincer ligands that are capable of ligand–metal cooperation
may lead to the creation of innovative, versatile, and effective catalysts,
some of which can even exceed the activity of state-of-the-art noble-metal
systems for green chemistry processes.