Recent Developments on the Use of Group 13 Metal Complexes in Catalysis

Abstract

Abstract The present Minireview highlights the most representative and emerging developments reported since 2012 on the use of well‐defined group 13 metal species in homogeneous catalysis. Apart from their use in polymerization catalysis, group 13 metal catalysts have primarily been developed for the functionalization of polar/unsaturated small molecules, with most reactions involving C−C, C−O or C−N double or triple bond functionalization (most frequently (C 6 F 5 ) 3 Al and low‐coordinate Al cations). The exploitation of group 13 catalysts for CO 2 functionalization chemistry has made remarkable advances over the past five years, including the development of Al‐ and Ga‐based complexes for CO 2 hydrosilylation/hydroboration. Highly effective Al catalysts for the production of cyclic carbonates via CO 2 /epoxide coupling are also discussed. The emerging use of simple Group 13 metal Lewis pairs for the controlled polymerization of polar monomers is also reviewed.