A salt-free procedure for the generation of a wide variety of metal(0) particles, including Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu, was achieved using 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-diaza-2,5-cyclohexadiene (1), which reduced the corresponding metal precursors under mild conditions. Notably, Ni particles formed in situ from the treatment of Ni(acac)₂ (acac=acetylacetonate) with 1 in toluene exhibited significant catalytic activity for reductive CC bond-forming reactions of aryl halides in the presence of excess amounts of 1. By examination of high-magnification transmission electron microscopy images and electron diffraction patterns, we concluded that amorphous Ni nanoparticles (Ni aNPs) were essential for the high catalytic activity.

A salt-free procedure for the generation of a wide variety of metal(0) particles, including Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu, was achieved using 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-diaza-2,5-cyclohexadiene (1), which reduced the corresponding metal precursors under mild conditions. Notably, Ni particles formed in situ from the treatment of Ni(acac)₂ (acac=acetylacetonate) with 1 in toluene exhibited significant catalytic activity for reductive CC bond-forming reactions of aryl halides in the presence of excess amounts of 1. By examination of high-magnification transmission electron microscopy images and electron diffraction patterns, we concluded that amorphous Ni nanoparticles (Ni aNPs) were essential for the high catalytic activity.

Environmentally benign oxidation of allylic alcohols by platinum black catalyst with aqueous hydrogen peroxide to give the corresponding α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in high yield is presented. Reactions are carried out under organic solvent- and halide-free conditions. The platinum black catalyst is commercially available and is found to be reusable at least seven times before significant loss of catalytic activity. The operation is very simple, even in a hectogram-scale synthesis, and gives corresponding carbonyl compounds in over 90 % yield. The effective oxidation of benzyl and secondary alcohols are also described.