2-Pyridonates:a versatile ligand platform in 3d transition metal coordination chemistry and catalysis

Aminoalcohols are an easily available, highly diverse, and inexpensive class of ligands with numerous applications in biological and technological contexts of metal-ligand mediated processes. Among them, 2-pyridonates exhibit especially intriguing stereoelectronic features that have enabled a versatile coordination chemistry. Learning from the natural role model of [Fe]-hydrogenase, 3d-transition metal complexes with pyridonate ligands have recently been developed for powerful catalytic transformations. This review illustrates the general properties of pyridonate ligands and their key roles in 3d transition metal catalysts.