Magnetically Separable Nanocatalysts: Bridges between Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis

Synthesis of Superparamagnetic Cu0.4Zn0.6Fe2O4-Implanted Bi2S3-Capped TiO2 2D and 3D Nanostructures for Visible Light Photocatalysis

Sharp narrow nanopetal-like and wrinkled nanoball-like cubic Cu_0.4Zn_0.6Fe₂O₄-implanted orthorhombic Bi₂S₃-capped anatase TiO₂ heterostructures have been synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal process in acidic and basic environments. They have been characterized by high-resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopies, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, selected area electron and powder X-ray diffractometries, vibrating sample magnetometry, UV-visible diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence spectroscopies, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis. Both the nanostructured composites are superparamagnetic. While the nanocomposite synthesized in acidic environment absorbs in the entire visible and UV spectral regions, the absorption edge of nanocomposite obtained in basic environment narrowly misses the red end of the visible spectrum. The emission spectra of both the nanomaterials are strikingly similar, indicating similar crystal defects in anatase TiO₂ lattice of both the nanocomposites. Although both the nanocomposites degrade dye under visible light, the photocatalytic activity of the sample obtained in acidic environment is superior to that prepared in basic condition. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite synthesized in acidic environment is rationalized in terms of nanostructure, surface area, and optical properties.

One-pot synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones catalyzed by SO3H@imineZCMNPs as a novel, efficient and reusable acidic nanocatalyst under solvent-free conditions

The synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one derivatives was accomplished efficiently via a three-component reaction between ethyl acetoacetate, various types of aldehydes, and urea in the presence of 10 mg SO₃H@imineZCMNPs as a novel, environment friendly, and reusable heterogeneous magnetic nanocatalyst under solvent-free conditions at 90 °C. The desired products were obtained with high quantitative yields. The catalyst was separated by simple isolation from the reaction mixture using a permanent magnet and reused several times without any significant loss of catalytic activity. The synthesized catalyst was fully characterized through various techniques including thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and the Hammett acidity test. This methodology tolerates most substrates and has the salient features of green reaction conditions, lower catalyst loading, high quantitative yields, low cost, the absence of solvents, and easy isolation and reusability of the catalyst.

Preparation and Reactivation of Heterogeneous Palladium Catalysts and Applications in Sonogashira, Suzuki, and Heck Reactions in Aqueous Media

A new type of heterogeneous palladium catalyst, PdMgAl-LDH, was facilely prepared by the immobilization of Pd2+ species in the layers of a Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) with co-precipitation, and then fully characterized by using powder XRD, thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis, TEM, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. These catalysts can efficiently catalyze copper-free Sonogashira, Suzuki and Heck coupling reactions of various aryl iodides, bromides, and chlorides in aqueous media under phosphine-ligand- and organic-base-free conditions. These catalysts feature easy recovery through simple filtration and could be reused at least six times without a marked loss in activity. Notably, they can be facilely reactivated by a combination of nitrolysis with co-precipitation. The basic LDH skeletons could effectively stabilize the Pd0 species created in situ and donate electron density to the Pd0 center to facilitate the oxidative addition of aryl halides, thus the PdMgAl-LDH catalysts are stable during catalysis.

Valorization of Biomass Derived Terpene Compounds by Catalytic Amination

This review fills an apparent gap existing in the literature by providing an overview of the readily available terpenes and existing catalytic protocols for preparation of terpene-derived amines. To address the role of solid catalysts in amination of terpenes the same reactions with homogeneous counterparts are also discussed. Such catalysts can be considered as a benchmark, which solid catalysts should match. Although catalytic systems based on transition metal complexes have been developed for synthesis of amines to a larger extent, there is an apparent need to reduce the production costs. Subsequently, homogenous systems based on cheaper metals operating by nucleophilic substitution (e.g., Ni, Co, Cu, Fe) with a possibility of easy recycling, as well as metal nanoparticles (e.g., Pd, Au) supported on amphoteric oxides should be developed. These catalysts will allow synthesis of amine derivatives of terpenes which have a broad range of applications as specialty chemicals (e.g., pesticides, surfactants, etc.) and pharmaceuticals. The review will be useful in selection and design of appropriate solid materials with tailored properties as efficient catalysts for amination of terpenes.

Ultra-Fast Degradation of p-Aminophenol by a Nanostructured Iron Catalyst

Full degradation of p-aminophenol in aqueous solution at room temperature by using a heterogeneous nanostructured iron hybrid catalyst in the presence of hydrogen peroxide is described. A nanostructured iron catalyst was prepared by in situ formation of iron carbonate nanorods on the protein network using an aqueous solution of an enzyme, lipase B from Candida antarctica (CAL-B). A second kind of iron nanostructured catalyst was obtained by the sunsequent treatment of the hybrid with an aqueous liquid extract of Mentha x piperita. Remarkable differences were observed using TEM imaging. When M. piperita extract was used, nanoparticles appeared instead of nanorods. Catalytic activity of these iron nanocatalysts was studied in the degradation of the environmental pollutant p-aminophenol (pAP) under different operating parameters, such as pH, presence of buffer or hydrogen peroxide concentration. Optimal conditions were pH 4 in acetate buffer 10 mM containing 1% (v/v) H₂O₂ for FeCO₃NRs@CALB, while for FeCO₃NRs@CALB-Mentha, water containing 1% (v/v) H₂O₂, resulted the best. A complete degradation of 100 ppm of pAP was achieved in 2 and 3 min respectively using 1 g Fe/L. This novel nanocatalyst was recycled five times maintaining full catalytic performance.

Magnetically Recoverable Catalysts: Beyond Magnetic Separation

Here, we discuss several important aspects of magnetically recoverable catalysts which can be realized when magnetic oxide nanoparticles are exposed to catalytic species and catalytic reaction media. In such conditions magnetic oxides can enhance performance of catalytic nanoparticles due to (i) electronic effects, (ii) catalyzing reactions which are beneficial for the final reaction outcome, or (iii) providing a capacity to dilute catalytic metal oxide species, leading to an increase of oxygen vacancies. However, this approach should be used when the magnetic oxides are stable in reaction conditions and do not promote side reactions. Incorporation of another active component, i.e., a graphene derivative, in the magnetically recoverable catalyst constitutes a smart design of a catalytic system due to synergy of its components, further enhancing catalytic properties.

Amphiphilic Block Copolymers Directed Interface Coassembly to Construct Multifunctional Microspheres with Magnetic Core and Monolayer Mesoporous Aluminosilicate Shell

Core-shell magnetic porous microspheres have wide applications in drug delivery, catalysis and bioseparation, and so on. However, it is great challenge to controllably synthesize magnetic porous microspheres with uniform well-aligned accessible large mesopores (>10 nm) which are highly desired for applications involving immobilization or adsorption of large guest molecules or nanoobjects. In this study, a facile and general amphiphilic block copolymer directed interfacial coassembly strategy is developed to synthesize core-shell magnetic mesoporous microspheres with a monolayer of mesoporous shell of different composition (FDUcs-17D), such as core-shell magnetic mesoporous aluminosilicate (CS-MMAS), silica (CS-MMS), and zirconia-silica (CS-MMZS), open and large pores by employing polystyrene-block-poly (4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) as an interface structure directing agent and aluminum acetylacetonate (Al(acac)₃ ), zirconium acetylacetonate, and tetraethyl orthosilicate as shell precursors. The obtained CS-MMAS microspheres possess magnetic core, perpendicular mesopores (20-32 nm) in the shell, high surface area (244.7 m² g^-1 ), and abundant acid sites (0.44 mmol g^-1 ), and as a result, they exhibit superior performance in removal of organophosphorus pesticides (fenthion) with a fast adsorption dynamics and high adsorption capacity. CS-MMAS microspheres loaded with Au nanoparticles (≈3.5 nm) behavior as a highly active heterogeneous nanocatalyst for N-alkylation reaction for producing N-phenylbenzylamine with a selectivity and yields of over 90% and good magnetic recyclability.

Synthesis of a molecularly defined single-active site heterogeneous catalyst for selective oxidation of N-heterocycles

Generally, a homogeneous catalyst exhibits good activity and defined active sites but it is difficult to recycle. Meanwhile, a heterogeneous catalyst can easily be reused but its active site is difficult to reveal. It is interesting to bridge the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis via controllable construction of a heterogeneous catalyst containing defined active sites. Here, we report that a molecularly defined, single-active site heterogeneous catalyst has been designed and prepared via the oxidative polymerization of maleimide derivatives. These polymaleimide derivatives can be active catalysts for the selective oxidation of heterocyclic compounds to quinoline and indole via the recycling of -C=O and -C-OH groups, which was confirmed by tracing the reaction with GC-MS using maleimide as the catalyst and by FT-IR analysis with polymaleimide as the catalyst. These results might promote the development of heterogeneous catalysts with molecularly defined single active sites exhibiting a comparable activity to homogeneous catalysts.

Magnetically Separable Nanocatalyst with the Fe3O4 Core and Polydopamine-Sandwiched Au Nanocrystal Shell

This work reports a novel Fe₃O₄@polydopamine/Au/polydopamine core/shell nanocomposite toward a magnetically separable nanocatalyst. Because the polydopamine (PDA) layer-sandwiched Au nanocrystals were prepared by a layer-by-layer method, the content of Au could be controlled by varying the Au shell number (such as burger-like Fe₃O₄@PDA/Au/PDA/Au/PDA). Fe₃O₄@PDA/Au/PDA exhibited excellent catalytic activity in reducing p-nitrophenol because the substrate could penetrate the PDA shell. Owing to the protection of the PDA shell, Fe₃O₄@PDA/Au/PDA presented higher cyclability than Fe₃O₄@PDA/Au. The activity of Fe₃O₄@PDA/Au/PDA maintained 95% after 7 cycles, while that of Fe₃O₄@PDA/Au was only 61%. The detailed cycling catalytic mechanism was investigated, and it was found that the catalytic rate of Fe₃O₄@PDA/Au/PDA/Au/PDA was faster than that of Fe₃O₄@PDA/Au/PDA because of the higher Au content. Interestingly, this method could be extended for other magnetic nanocomposites with two different kinds of noble metal nanocrystals integrated within one particle, such as Fe₃O₄@PDA/Au/PDA/Ag/PDA and Fe₃O₄@PDA/Au/PDA/Pd/PDA.