Alkali-metal heavyweights : up and coming contenders in homogeneous catalysis?

Roa, David Sánchez and Mulvey, Robert E. and Hevia, Eva (2026) Alkali-metal heavyweights : up and coming contenders in homogeneous catalysis? ACS Catalysis, 16 (4). pp. 2935-2951. ISSN 2155-5435 (https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.5c08156)

Preview

Text. Filename: Roa-etal-2026-ACS-Catalysis-Alkali-metal-heavyweights.pdf Accepted Author Manuscript License: Download (3MB)| Preview

Abstract

Alkali-metal compounds, particularly organolithium and lithium amide reagents, are indispensable organometallic reagents in synthesis, finding widespread applications in cornerstone stoichiometric organic processes. Recent advances in the development of heavier alkali-metal analogues have revealed their emerging potential not only to participate in stoichiometric processes but also to catalyze transformations traditionally dominated by precious transition metals. This perspective provides an overview of a selection of these applications focusing on hydrogen isotope exchange, alkene isomerization, C–C bond formation, hydrophosphination, and hydrogenation. Special focus is placed on current mechanistic understanding and alkali-metal effects, aiming to draw out key challenges and opportunities that may guide the future development of alkali-metal-mediated catalysis.

ORCID iDs

Mulvey, Robert E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1015-2564

• Share and Export
  

  HTML CitationSimple MetadataMPEG-21 DIDLMultiline CSVData Cite XMLJSONOpenURL ContextObject in SpanMODSRDF+N3METSDublin CoreReferRefWorksOpenURL ContextObjectEP3 XMLRIS (EndNote Online, Zotero, Ref manager, etc)EndNoteASCII CitationRDF+N-TriplesRIOXX2 XMLRDF+XMLBibTeXAtom
• Item metadata

  Item type:	Article
  ID code:	95573
  Dates:	Date Event 20 February 2026 Published 3 February 2026 Published Online 22 January 2026 Accepted
  Subjects:	Science > Chemistry
  Department:	Faculty of Science > Pure and Applied Chemistry
  Depositing user:	Pure Administrator
  Date deposited:	17 Feb 2026 10:01
  Last modified:	11 Mar 2026 17:11
  URI:	https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/95573