This thesis presents detailed mechanistic studies on a series of important C-H activation reactions using combined computational methods and mass spectrometry experiments. It also provides guidance on the design and improvement of catalysts and ligands. The reactions investigated include: (i) a nitrile-containing template-assisted meta-selective C-H activation, (ii) Pd/mono-N-protected amino acid (MPAA) catalyzed meta-selective C-H activation, (iii) Pd/MPAA catalyzed asymmetric C-H activation reactions, and (iv) Cu-catalyzed sp3 C-H cross-dehydrogenative-coupling reaction. The book reports on a novel dimeric Pd-M (M = Pd or Ag) model for reaction (i), which successfully explains the meta-selectivity observed experimentally. For reaction (ii), with a combined DFT/MS method, the author successfully reveals the roles of MPAA ligands and a new C-H activation mechanism, which accounts for the improved reactivity and high meta-selectivity and opens new avenues for ligand design. She subsequently applies ion-mobility mass spectrometry to capture and separate the [Pd(MPAA)(substrate)] complex at different stages for the first time, providing support for the internal-base model for reaction (iii). Employing DFT studies, she then establishes a chirality relay model that can be widely applied to MPAA-assisted asymmetric C-H activation reactions. Lastly, for reaction (iv) the author conducts detailed computational studies on several plausible pathways for Cu/O2 and Cu/TBHP systems and finds a reliable method for calculating the single electron transfer (SET) process on the basis of benchmark studies.

This thesis presents detailed mechanistic studies on a series of important C-H activation reactions using combined computational methods and mass spectrometry experiments. It also provides guidance on the design and improvement of catalysts and ligands. The reactions investigated include: (i) a nitrile-containing template-assisted meta-selective C-H activation, (ii) Pd/mono-N-protected amino acid (MPAA) catalyzed meta-selective C-H activation, (iii) Pd/MPAA catalyzed asymmetric C-H activation reactions, and (iv) Cu-catalyzed sp3 C-H cross-dehydrogenative-coupling reaction. The book reports on a novel dimeric Pd-M (M = Pd or Ag) model for reaction (i), which successfully explains the meta-selectivity observed experimentally. For reaction (ii), with a combined DFT/MS method, the author successfully reveals the roles of MPAA ligands and a new C-H activation mechanism, which accounts for the improved reactivity and high meta-selectivity and opens new avenues for ligand design. She subsequently applies ion-mobility mass spectrometry to capture and separate the [Pd(MPAA)(substrate)] complex at different stages for the first time, providing support for the internal-base model for reaction (iii). Employing DFT studies, she then establishes a chirality relay model that can be widely applied to MPAA-assisted asymmetric C-H activation reactions. Lastly, for reaction (iv) the author conducts detailed computational studies on several plausible pathways for Cu/O2 and Cu/TBHP systems and finds a reliable method for calculating the single electron transfer (SET) process on the basis of benchmark studies.

Applications of Nuclear and Radioisotope Technology: For Peace and Sustainable Development presents the latest technology and research on nuclear energy with a practical focus on a variety of applications. Author Dr. Khalid Al-Nabhani provides a thorough and well-rounded view of the status of nuclear power generation in order to promote its benefits towards a sustainable, clean and secure future. This book offers innovative theoretical, analytical, methodological and technological approaches, encourages a positive societal and political uptake. This book enhances awareness of peaceful nuclear applications across a broad spectrum of industries, including power generation, agriculture, and medicine. It presents successful examples and lessons learned across many countries that are working towards their sustainability goals in cooperation with the IAEA and AAEA, to benefit researchers, professionals and decision-makers implementing and developing their own nuclear strategies for the future. Presents theoretical and scientific knowledge which is supported with real examples and successful experiences Provides prevailing perceptions of nuclear safety and security concerns by presenting the most advanced safety and security systems Applies technologies to a variety of applications to guide the reader to make informed decisions to help meet sustainability goals

Transition metal catalysis belongs to the most important chemical research areas because a ubiquitous number of chemical reactions are catalyzed by transition metal compounds. Many efforts are being made by industry and academia to find new and more efficient catalysts for chemical processes. Transition metals play a prominent role in catalytic research because they have been proven to show an enormous diversity in lowering the activation barrier for chemical reactions. For many years, the search for new catalysts was carried out by trial and error, which was costly and time consuming. The understanding of the mechanism of the catalytic process is often not very advanced because it is difficult to study the elementary steps of the catalysis with experimental techniques. The development of modern quantum chemical methods for calculating possible intermediates and transition states was a breakthrough in gaining an understanding of the reaction pathways of transition metal catalyzed reactions. This volume, organized into eight chapters written by leading scientists in the field, illustrates the progress made during the last decade. The reader will obtain a deep insight into the present state of quantum chemical research in transition metal catalysis.

Transition metal catalyzed C-H bond activation reaction is a powerful synthetic method for forming functionalized products directly from unreactive hydrocarbons, and has enormous synthetic potentials for developing chemical processes ranging from petroleum products to pharmaceutical agents. In an attempt to mimic the high stereo selectivity and region selectivity of catalytic reactions by transition metal catalysts, recent research has focused on design and synthesis of transition metal complex and the application on the coupling reactions involving C-H bond activation. Herein, we wish to report the highly effective coupling reactions involving C-H bond activation by using well-defined ruthenium catalysts. Ruthenium hydride complex was to found to have high activity and selectivity for hydrosilylation, silyl enol ethers formation and enol esters formation reactions. Throughout the course of the mechanistic investigation of the reactions, we found compelling evidence for mechanism of reactions by spectroscopic, structural techniques and computational (DFT) analysis.

This book is a comprehensive text covering the research and development trends in the booming field of transition metal catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling reactions. Oxidative cross-coupling reaction is a new method to forming chemical bonds besides the traditional cross-coupling reactions. This book provides the answers to how this coupling reaction occurs and what its advantages are. The palladium, copper and iron catalyzed oxidative cross-coupling reactions as the main focuses of interest are described in detail. The oxidative cross-coupling reactions catalyzed by other metals and transition-metal-free oxidative coupling reactions are also introduced.This book provides a useful reference source for researchers and graduates in the field of transition metal catalyzed coupling reactions. It is also valuable to researchers working in pharmaceutical companies, fine organic chemical companies, and etc.

This thesis presents the latest developments in new catalytic C–C bond formation methods using easily accessible carboxylate salts through catalytic decarboxylation with good atom economy, and employing the sustainable element iron as the catalyst to directly activate C–H bonds with high step efficiency. In this regard, it explores a mechanistic understanding of the newly discovered decarboxylative couplings and the catalytic reactivity of the iron catalyst with the help of density functional theory calculation. The thesis is divided into two parts, the first of which focuses on the development of a series of previously unexplored, inexpensive carboxylate salts as useful building blocks for the formation of various C–C bonds to access valuable chemicals. In turn, the second part is devoted to several new C–C bond formation methodologies using the most ubiquitous transition metal, iron, as a catalyst, and using the ubiquitous C–H bond as the coupling partner.