Main Group Redox Catalysis of Organopnictogens: Vertical Periodic Trends and Emerging Opportunities in Group 15

Abstract

A growing number of organopnictogen redox catalytic methods have emerged-especially within the past 10 years-that leverage the plentiful reversible two-electron redox chemistry within Group 15. The goal of this Perspective is to provide readers the context to understand the dramatic developments in organopnictogen catalysis over the past decade with an eye toward future development. An exposition of the fundamental differences in the atomic structure and bonding of the pnictogens, and thus the molecular electronic structure of organopnictogen compounds, is presented to establish the backdrop against which organopnictogen redox reactivity-and ultimately catalysis-is framed. A deep appreciation of these underlying periodic principles informs an understanding of the differing modes of organopnictogen redox catalysis and evokes the key challenges to the field moving forward. We close by addressing forward-looking directions likely to animate this area in the years to come. What new catalytic manifolds can be developed through creative catalyst and reaction design that take advantage of the intrinsic redox reactivity of the pnictogens to drive new discoveries in catalysis?