The merger of photoredox catalysis with transition metal catalysis, termed metallaphotoredox catalysis, has become a mainstay in synthetic methodology over the past decade. Metallaphotoredox catalysis has combined the unparalleled capacity of transition metal catalysis for bond formation with the broad utility of photoinduced electron- and energy-transfer processes. Photocatalytic substrate activation has allowed the engagement of simple starting materials in metal-mediated bond-forming processes. Moreover, electron or energy transfer directly with key organometallic intermediates has provided novel activation modes entirely complementary to traditional catalytic platforms. This Review details and contextualizes the advancements in molecule construction brought forth by metallaphotocatalysis.

Investigation into the biological function of 5-benzylidene-4-oxazolidinones revealed dose-dependent inhibition of biofilm formation in Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). This structurally unusual class of small molecules inhibit up to 89% of biofilm formation with IC50 values as low as 0.78 μM, and disperse pre-formed biofilms with IC50 values as low as 4.7 μM. Together, these results suggest that 4-oxazolidinones represent new chemotypes to enable the study of bacteral biofilms with small molecule chemical probes.

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The Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction is a foundation stone of modern organic synthesis, as evidenced by its widespread use in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, polymers, and other functional materials. With the prevalence of this venerable reaction in industrial synthesis, it is prudent to ensure its application adheres to the tenets of green chemistry. The introduction of cross-coupling catalysts that are active in sustainable solvents is therefore an important endeavor. In this report, a melamine-palladium complex is introduced as a versatile catalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. This catalyst is soluble and active in both water and the renewable organic solvent ethyl lactate. The melamine-palladium catalyst can also be cross-linked by reaction with formaldehyde to generate an insoluble polymeric catalyst that can be recovered after the cross-coupling. The melamine-palladium system is inexpensive, easy to handle, bench-stable, and effective in catalysis in the presence of a variety of impurities (high cross-coupling yields were obtained in reactions run in unfiltered river water to illustrate this final point). Additionally, investigations reported herein revealed an intriguing relationship between catalytic efficiency and the base employed in the cross-coupling reaction. Implications for the mechanism of transmetalation in aqueous Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction are discussed.

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Allyl sulphides are reactive substrates in ruthenium-catalysed olefin metathesis reactions, provided each substrate is matched with a suitable catalyst. A profile of catalyst activity is described, along with the first demonstration of allyl sulphides as traceless promoters in relayed ring-closing metathesis reactions.

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