Heterogeneous Catalysis for Cross-Coupling Reactions: An Underutilized Powerful and Sustainable Tool in the Fine Chemical Industry?

Transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are among the most important processes in organic chemistry. For years, the fine chemical industry has looked for a variety of ways to reduce the amounts of transition metals employed in their transformations, particularly in cross-coupling reactions. One interesting alternative to consider is the use of heterogeneous catalysis because of its potential benefits of low metal levels postreaction and reusability. Numerous examples of the use of heterogeneous catalysis will be described in this review that highlight its advantages over more commonly employed homogeneous catalysts. Despite their great potential, the past decade has seen a decrease in the use of heterogeneous catalysts for cross-coupling reactions in the fine chemical industry, fueled by the perception of difficult reaction understanding and reproducibility. With the emergence of a new generation of supported metal catalysts, first-row transition metal catalysis, and continuous flow technology, a variety of tools have been developed to change this reluctance toward heterogeneous catalysis for cross-coupling reactions in the fine chemical industry. We hope that this review captures the attention of the participants in the fine chemical field to consider and implement heterogeneous catalysis for cross-coupling reactions.