A range of environmentally conservative solvents was evaluated for application in olefin metathesis. Different commercially available and most frequently applied ruthenium catalysts were employed. The data obtained can be used as a guide to facilitate replacement of environmentally detrimental chlorinated or aromatic solvents with greener reaction media in order to make applications of olefin metathesis in both industry and academia more environmentally benign and sustainable processes.

Overview of recent advances in transformations employing optically pure H–P reagents derived from chiral alcohols such as TADDOL, BINOL and menthol in the asymmetric synthesis ofC- andP-stereogenic organophosphorus compounds is presented.

Zn hyperaccumulating plants Noccaea caerulescens and Anthyllis vulneraria were used as the starting material for preparation of novel Lewis ecological catalysts. Those catalysts efficiently mediate the Diels–Alder reaction. High yields, very good regio- and diastereoselectivity, low catalyst loading and the possibly of its recovery and reuse, along with mild reaction conditions, eco-friendly treatment and short reaction time, are the key advantages of the presented approach.

Dedicated to Professor Bogdan Boduszek on the occasion of his 67^th birthday Due to the interest in α-amino- and α-hydroxyphosphonates and their derivatives, which arises from the important biological activity exhibited by those compounds, the development of efficient protocols for their preparation is of great importance. In the last 10 years however, the chemistry of α-amino and α-hydroxyphosphonates has been witness to an explosion of research activities in the field of application of environmentally benign media. This fact can be partially attributed to the development of the field of green and sustainable chemistry and especially the implementation of green solvents that has a large potential to contribute to more sustainable processes in chemical, pharmaceutical and processing industries. This review provides the reader with an in-depth overview of advances in the synthesis of α-amino- and α-hydroxyphosphonates under eco-friendy conditions compiled into sections with respect to product type and reaction medium. 1 Introduction 2 Syntheses of α-Aminophosphonates in Environmentally Friendly Media 2.1 Reactions in Water 2.2 Reactions in Ionic Liquids 2.3 Solvent-Free Protocols 2.3.1 Reactions without Any Additives 2.3.2 Reactions Promoted by Ultrasound or Microwave Irradiation 2.3.3 Catalyzed Reactions under Solvent-Free Conditions 3 Preparation of α-Hydroxyphosphonates under Environmentally Friendly Conditions 3.1 Reactions in Water 3.2 Reactions under Solvent-Free Conditions 4 Concluding Remarks

This account describes the discovery and development of efficient electron-withdrawing group activated Hoveyda–Grubbs catalysts, including a nitro-substituted catalyst and their applications in the syntheses of complex molecules. 1 Introduction 2 EWG-Activated Hoveyda–Grubbs Complexes 2.1 The Discovery and the Story Behind It 2.2 The Nitro-Substituted Hoveyda–Grubbs Catalyst 2.3 pH-Responsive Catalysts 2.4 Fine-Tuning of the EWG Fragment 3 Applications of the Nitro-Substituted Hoveyda–Grubbs Catalyst in the Preparation of Compounds of Biological Relevance 3.1 Synthesis of BILN 2061 4 Concluding Remarks