Metal-Free Oxidative Transformations in Organic Synthesis

Metal-free reactions are becoming increasingly important in the field of organic synthesis. In the past, organic chemists relied mainly on transition metal catalysts for achieving oxidative transformations. Currently, multiple metal-free synthetic pathways are available to achieve oxidative reactions including organocatalysis. Metal-free oxidation approaches are attractive tools for organic chemists due to their contribution to green chemistry. In the past few decades, iodine and selenium reagents have been successfully contributed to metal-free oxidation reactions. In recent years, stereoselective oxidative reactions have been successfully developed by using non-metallic chiral reagents. In the proposed thematic issue, we will focus on metal-free oxidative transformations including their asymmetric variants.

Tools used in the synthetic methodology must be continuously expanded and improved to enable sustainable production of chemicals and meet the increasing demands from the industry. The contribution of organic chemistry and its impact on society, in general, will be enhanced by the development of processes with significantly superior environmental and industry-relevant credentials. The majority of the essential classes of organic transformations, including C-C and C-X (X = heteroatom) bond-forming cross-coupling reactions, and cross dehydrogenative- coupling (CDC) mostly rely on the requirement of transition-metal catalysts and hazardous organic solvents. Hence, the scope of developing green synthetic strategies by avoiding the use of transition-metal catalysts and hazardous organic solvents for these important and useful classes of organic transformations is very high. Metal-free oxidative transformations have emerged as an important alternative to metal catalysis in the past few decades. Metals, especially some transition metals, are toxic, expensive, rare, and not eco-friendly, which also make them non-sustainable. Furthermore, in some cases, metal-free catalysis has more advantages, such as unique performance, selectivity, recyclability and substrate tolerance.

In this Research Topic, we welcome submissions about metal-free oxidative transformations. We are hoping this collection will give a comprehensive understanding of metal-free catalysts for the readers interested in these domains. We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
· Metal-free Oxidations
· Organocatalysis
· Photocatalysis
· Electrocatalysis