Recycled Rare Earth Elements as Catalysts in Organic Transformations

Rare Earth Elements (REE) play a pivotal role in everyday life, serving as essential materials in technological components.1 Nevertheless, their impact is significant also in organic chemistry, especially when used as catalysts due to their particular electronic properties.2 Unfortunately, they are mainly localised in countries with complex geopolitical situations, increasing the risk of shortages and rising prices. Therefore, the recycling of electronic waste and magnets, which are rich in REE, has become mandatory. Our project aims to demonstrate the possibility of employing mixtures of REE as catalysts in different organic reactions, without further purification, obtained from the recycling of E-waste. Recently, our group reported the use of a yttrium-rich recycled mixture to promote Michael addition and Diels-Alder reactions.3-5 Here, we wish to disclose the results of our investigation with another REE, Nd, as the principal component of a mixture obtained by the recovery and recycling of NdFeB magnets.