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Nano-catalysts: Bridging the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis
Citation:
Polshettiwar, V. AND R. S. VARMA. Nano-catalysts: Bridging the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Presented at Central Regional meeting of the American Chemical Society, CLEVELAND, OH, May 20 - 23, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Functionalized nanoparticles have emerged as sustainable alternatives to conventional materials, as robust, high-surface-area heterogeneous catalyst supports. We envisioned a catalyst system, which can bridge the homogenous and heterogeneous system. Postsynthetic surface modification protocol for magnetic nanoparticles has been developed that imparts desirable chemical functionality and enables the generation of catalytic sites on the surfaces of ensuing metal-catalysts as well as organocatalysts. In view of their nano-size, the contact between reactants and catalyst increases dramatically thus mimicking the homogeneous catalysts. Their insoluble character coupled with paramagnetic nature, on the other hand, enables easy separation of these nanocatalysts from the reaction mixture using external magnet, which eliminates the requirement of catalyst filtration. These novel nano-catalysts blur the distinction between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis thus preserving the desirable attributes of both the systems. Their unique activity and high selectivity in several reaction types will be discussed.
