Microwave-Assisted Transition Metal-Catalyzed Reactions
Aron Manick Joel J, Sharmila Nokku, Gopal Chandru Senadi
Microwave radiation, which lies between infrared and radio waves in the electromagnetic spectrum, has been widely used in chemical synthesis to accelerate reactions and minimize the formation of by-products. Transition metals have greatly influenced modern chemistry due to their unique ability to exist in multiple oxidation states and to promote a wide range of catalytic transformations. They play a key role in diverse processes, from industrial-scale reactions such as the Haber-Bosch synthesis of ammonia to modern cross-coupling reactions that enable the efficient construction of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds which are essential steps in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and advanced materials. In recent years, the move toward environmentally friendly and sustainable methods in organic synthesis has gained significant momentum. However, conventional transition metal-catalyzed reactions often require long reaction times and show limited efficiency, making them less sustainable. The use of microwave irradiation in such reactions offers a powerful solution, reducing reaction time, increasing yield, and improving selectivity by minimizing side reactions. This chapter explores the synergy between microwave irradiation and transition metal catalysis and its growing importance in developing efficient and sustainable synthetic methodologies.
Keywords
Microwave-Assisted Synthesis, Transition Metal Catalysis, Cross-Coupling Reactions, Sustainable Chemistry, Reaction Efficiency
Published online 4/5/2026, 36 pages
Citation: Aron Manick Joel J, Sharmila Nokku, Gopal Chandru Senadi, Microwave-Assisted Transition Metal-Catalyzed Reactions, Materials Research Foundations, Vol. 189, pp 348-383, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904039-11
Part of the book on Microwave-Assisted Synthesis
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