Open AccessSupported Molecular Catalysts: Synthesis, In-Situ Characterization and Performance
Author(s) -
Mark E. Davis
Publication year - 2009
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/949190
Subject(s) - catalysis , selectivity , reactivity (psychology) , sulfonic acid , thiol , base (topology) , characterization (materials science) , in situ , combinatorial chemistry , chemistry , acid–base reaction , neutralization , solid acid , function (biology) , work (physics) , chemical engineering , materials science , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , physics , mathematics , medicine , mathematical analysis , alternative medicine , pathology , evolutionary biology , antibody , immunology , biology , thermodynamics , engineering
The objectives of our work are: (i) to create solid catalysts with active sites that can function in a cooperative manner to enhance reactivity and selectivity, and (ii) to prepare solid catalysts that can perform multiple reactions in a network that in some cases would not be possible in solution due to the incompatibilities of the various catalytic entities (for example an acid and a base). We carried out extensive reactions to test the nature of the cooperative effect caused by thiol/sulfonic acid interactions. The acid/thiol combination provided an example where the two organic groups should be positioned as close to one another as possible. We also studied a system where this is not possible (acid-base). We investigated simultaneously incorporating acid and base groups into the same material. For the case of acid and bases, there is an optimal separation distance (too close allows for neutralization while too far eliminates any cooperative behavior)