Aqueous Phase Reactions Catalysed by Transition Metal Complexes of 7-phospha-1,3,5-triazaadamantane (PTA) and derivatives in Phosphorus compounds: advanced tools in catalysis and material sciences (Eds M. Peruzzini, L. Gonsalvi), Catalysis by Metal Com

The possibility to run selective catalytic transformations in water has fascinated generations of chemists working in the field of homogenous catalysis. One of the most common approaches has been so far to translate organic phase transition metal complex catalyzed processes into water phase by replacing ancillary ligands such as phosphines with their water soluble analogs. A class of neutral, stable, easy-to-handle and functionally versatile monodentate phosphines is represented by 7-phospha-1,3,5-triazacyclo-[3.3.1.1]decane (PTA) whose application has witnessed a true renaissance in the first decade of the present century after some interest starting from its discovery in 1974. This chapter summarizes the most relevant applications of transition metal complexes of PTA in catalysis, from C=C and C=O bond hydrogenation, to olefin hydroformylation and various C-C and C-element bond forming reactions.