Recent advances in sustainable organic transformations using methanol: expanding the scope of hydrogen-borrowing catalysis

Present review focuses on the recent progress achieved from 2017 to March 2021 using methanol as C1-alkylating agent. A series of novel metal-catalyzed hydrogen-borrowing processes have been developed using methanol. Most importantly, non-precious metal-catalyzed activation and functionalization of methanol have been discussed in detailed including mechanistic investigations. Designing of interesting pincer-complex’s for conceptual activation of methanol attracts great potential and are covered. Further, methylation of nitroarenes or alkanes, up-gradation of methanol to higher order alcohols including Guerbet-type transformations and -alkylations using molecularly-defined catalysts are discussed. Recently reported C, N, or O-methylation will be covered including ketone alkylations or), N-formylations, amidations, sulfonylations as well as other interesting areas will be discussed. Application of industrially important heterogeneous catalysts and application for methanol activation is an exciting part. Synthesis of various important drugs having “-CH3' motif, late-stage methylation including incorporation of medicinally useful “-CD3' motif are interesting addition in the present discussions. Again, photo or electro-catalytic transformations using methanol also be discussed. Limitation in the number of review article in this subject area limits its understanding, therefore, we believe that, an updated review article is necessary to emphasis the attention of the researchers in this direction.