Professor Nobutaka Maeda (Multiscale Science and Engineering for Energy and the Environment Thrust/CESD), in collaboration with RIKEN, has developed a quadruple switchable catalysis, enabling sp³ C–H arylation, aminomethylation, sp² C–H arylation, and deiodination using aryl halides and formamides.

A quadruple switchable catalysis was developed, enabling sp³ C–H arylation, aminomethylation, sp² C–H arylation, and deiodination using aryl halides and formamides. The selectivity of this protocol was governed by the amine derivatives, wherein ammonium formate promoted sp³ C–H arylation, triethanolamine favored aminomethylation, and tripropanolamine facilitated sp² C–H arylation. Additionally, temperature was found to play a crucial role, with aminomethylation occurring at 150 °C and deiodination at 110 °C. All reactions were performed using a reusable silicon nanowire array-supported Pd catalyst with an ultralow Pd loading of 65 mol ppm. The use of microwave irradiation was essential for promoting the catalytic reaction, with the magnetic field component proving more effective than the electric field.

Abhijit Sen, Yuta Matsukawa, Atsuya Muranaka, Yu Hatakenaka, Abdullah J. Al Abdulghani, Nobutaka Maeda, Aya Ohno, Heeyoel Baek, and Yoichi M. A. Yamada, “Quadruple Switchable Catalysis: sp³ C–H Arylation, Aminomethylation, sp² C–H Arylation, and Deiodination“, ACS Catalysis, 2026, DOI：10.1021/acscatal.5c08315