Graphene Oxide: A Convenient Carbocatalyst for Facilitating Oxidation and Hydration Reactions

Carbocatalysis the intersection of carbon materials and catalysis—is the use of large-area, metal-free carbon to facilitate chemical reactions. In their Communication on page 6813 ff., C. Bielawski and co-workers demonstrate that graphene-based materials may be used as carbocatalysts to facilitate a number of synthetically useful transformations, including the oxidation of alcohols and alkenes into their respective aldehydes and ketones, as well as the hydration of alkynes.