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Small Pd Nanoparticles Supported in Large Pores of Mesocellular Foam: An Excellent Catalyst for Racemization of Amines
Author(s) -
Shakeri Mozaffar,
Tai Cheukwai,
Göthelid Emmanuelle,
Oscarsson Sven,
Bäckvall JanE.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201101265
Subject(s) - racemization , catalysis , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , amine gas treating , nanoparticle , materials science , palladium , chemical engineering , transmission electron microscopy , nuclear chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , nanotechnology , engineering
Highly dispersed palladium nanoparticles (1–2 nm) supported in large‐pore mesocellular foam (MCF; 29 nm) were synthesized. The Pd‐nanocatalyst/MCF system was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The performance of the Pd nanocatalyst obtained was examined for amine racemization. The Pd nanocatalyst showed higher activity and selectivity toward racemization of ( S )‐1‐phenylethyl amine than any other amine racemization catalyst reported so far and it could be reused several times. Our data from TEM and XRD suggest a restructuring of the Pd nanocatalyst from amorphous to crystalline and an increase in Pd nanocatalyst size during the racemization reaction. This led to an unexpected increase of activity after the first use. The Pd nanocatalyst obtained can be integrated with other resolving processes of racemic organic compounds to increase the yield of chiral organic products.