Carbonylation reactions of alkenes constitute the most important industrial processes in homogeneous catalysis. Despite the tremendous progress in this transformation, the development of advanced catalyst systems to improve their activity and widen the range of feedstocks continues to be essential for new practical applications. Herein a palladium catalyst based on 1,2-bis((tert-butyl(pyridin-2-yl)phosphanyl)methyl)benzene L3 (pytbpx) is rationally designed and synthesized. Application of this system allows a general alkoxycarbonylation of sterically hindered and demanding olefins including all kinds of tetra-, tri- and 1,1-disubstituted alkenes as well as natural products and pharmaceuticals to the desired esters in excellent yield. Industrially relevant bulk ethylene is functionalized with high activity (TON: >1,425,000; TOF: 44,000 h−1 for initial 18 h) and selectivity (>99%). Given its generality and efficiency, we expect this catalytic system to immediately impact both the chemical industry and research laboratories by providing a practical synthetic tool for the transformation of nearly any alkene into a versatile ester product.

The nickel‐catalyzed decomposition of formic acid to yield molecular hydrogen and the nickel‐catalyzed hydrogenation of bicarbonate as a carbon dioxide mimic have been examined. Well‐defined nickel complexes modified by a PCP‐pincer ligand, especially nickel hydride and nickel formate complexes, revealed catalytic activity with turnover numbers of up to 626 (decomposition) and 3000 (hydrogenation). Thus, a formal hydrogen storage and release cycle performed by a well‐defined nickel catalyst was accomplished.

Formate salts are important chemicals widely used in everyday products. The current industrial-scale manufacture of formates requires CO at high pressure and harsh reaction conditions. Herein, we describe a new process for these products without the utilization of hazardous gases and chemicals. By application of ruthenium pincer complexes, a simultaneous methanol dehydrogenation and bicarbonate hydrogenation reaction proceeds, which provides a green synthesis of formate salts with excellent TON (>18,000), TOF (>1300 h(-1)), and yield (>90%).

An effective protocol for iron‐catalyzed biaryl syntheses by coupling chlorostyrenes with aryl Grignard reagents requires only mild reaction conditions and tolerates various functional groups. The underlying activation of deactivated aryl chlorides proceeds through a rate‐determining coordination of the catalyst to the vinyl substituent and subsequent haptotropic migration along the conjugated π system to the site of CCl bond cleavage.

A highly regioselective ruthenium-catalyzed hydroaminomethylation of olefins is reported. Using easily available trirutheniumdodecacarbonyl an efficient sequence consisting of a water-gas shift reaction, hydroformylation of olefins, with subsequent imine or enamine formation and final reduction is realized. This novel procedure is highly practical (ligand-free, one pot) and economic (low catalyst loading and inexpensive metal). Bulk industrial as well as functionalized olefins react with various amines to give the corresponding tertiary amines generally in high yields (up to 92 %), excellent regioselectivities (n/iso>99:1), and full chemoselectivity in favor of terminal olefins.