Strong Cation Exchange with Innocence: Synthesis and Characterization of Borate Containing Resins and Macroporous Monoliths

Continuous-flow hydrogenation over resin supported palladium catalyst for the synthesis of industrially relevant chemicals

Herein, the catalytic performance of palladium nanoparticles grafted on the polymeric TSNH2 (Tentagel-S-NH2) resin was investigated for continuous-flow liquid-phase hydrogenation of two industrially relevant chemicals: 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol and nitrocyclohexane. We investigated the effect of process parameters such as temperature and pressure on PdTSNH2 activity and selectivity. Depending on the reaction conditions, well-dispersed PdNPs with average size of about 2 nm have shown very high flexibility in terms selectivity toward the desired products: 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol or 2-methyl-2-butanol in the case of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol hydrogenation and cyclohexanone oxime or cyclohexylamine as the main product in the case of nitrocyclohexane conversion. The optimal reaction conditions for 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol formation were estimated at 25 °C and 5 bar, and in the case of cyclohexanone oxime formation at 40 °C and 10 bar. We demonstrated the general trend in the catalytic performance of 2.2 wt% Pd grafted on Tentagel-S-NH2. Independently of the hydrogenated substrate, the increase in conversion leads to decreased selectivity to 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol and cyclohexanone oxime at the expense of increasing the selectivity to 2-methyl-2-butanol or cyclohexylamine.

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Alkylammoniotrifluoroborate functionalized polystyrenes: polymeric pre-catalysts for the metal-free borylation of heteroarenes

Three polymeric versions of ansa-N,N-dialkylammoniumtrifluoroborate ambiphilic molecules based on the styrene motif (poly(1-NMe2H+-2-BF3--4-styrene) (P-Me), poly(1-NEt2H+-2-BF3--4-styrene) (P-Et) and poly(1-piperidinyl-H+-2-BF3--4-styrene) (P-Pip)) were synthesized, characterized and tested as heterogeneous pre-catalysts for the borylation of electron-rich heteroarenes. These heterogeneous versions of previously reported pre-catalysts show similar reactivity patterns and represent the first examples of solid-supported FLP metal-free catalysts for the C-H borylation of heteroarenes.

Continuous-flow processes for the catalytic partial hydrogenation reaction of alkynes

The catalytic partial hydrogenation of substituted alkynes to alkenes is a process of high importance in the manufacture of several market chemicals. The present paper shortly reviews the heterogeneous catalytic systems engineered for this reaction under continuous flow and in the liquid phase. The main contributions appeared in the literature from 1997 up to August 2016 are discussed in terms of reactor design. A comparison with batch and industrial processes is provided whenever possible.

Nanocatalysis in Flow

Nanocatalysis in flow is catalysis by metallic nanoparticles (NPs; 1-50 nm) performed in microstructured reactors. These catalytic processes make use of the enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity of NPs and fulfill the requirements of green chemistry. Anchoring catalytically active metal NPs within a microfluidic reactor enhances the reagent/catalyst interaction, while avoiding diffusion limitations experienced in classical approaches. Different strategies for supporting NPs are reviewed herein, namely, packed-bed reactors, monolithic flow-through reactors, wall catalysts, and a selection of novel approaches (NPs embedded on nanotubes, nanowires, catalytic membranes, and magnetic NPs). Through a number of catalytic reactions, such as hydrogenations, oxidations, and cross-coupling reactions, the advantages and possible drawbacks of each approach are illustrated.

Continuous flow synthesis of Rh and Pd nanoparticles onto ion-exchange borate monoliths: application to selective catalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated carbonyl compounds under flow conditions

Rh and Pd NPs, generated within an unconventional borate monolith, performed highly in continuous flow hydrogenation of unsaturated carbonyl compounds.