Expanding the Utility of One-Pot Multistep Reaction Networks through Compartmentation and Recovery of the Catalyst

A facile one-pot synthesis of ruthenium hydroxide nanoparticles on magnetic silica: aqueous hydration of nitriles to amides

One-pot synthesis of ruthenium hydroxide nanoparticles on magnetic silica is described which involves the in situ generation of magnetic silica (Fe(3)O(4)@SiO(2)) and ruthenium hydroxide immobilization; the hydration of nitriles occurs in high yield and excellent selectivity using this catalyst which proceeds exclusively in aqueous medium under neutral conditions.

Chemistry by Nanocatalysis: First example of a solid-supported RAPTA complex for organic reactions in aqueous medium

A ruthenium-arene-PTA (RAPTA) complex has been supported for the first time on an inorganic solid, that is, silica-coated ferrite nanoparticles. The resulting magnetic material proved to be a general, very efficient and easily reusable catalyst for three synthetically useful organic transformations; selective nitrile hydration, redox isomerization of allylic alcohols, and heteroannulation of (Z)-enynols. The use of low metal concentration, environmentally friendly water as a reaction medium, with no use at all of organic solvent during or after the reactions, and microwaves as an alternative energy source renders the synthetic processes reported herein "truly" green and sustainable.

Cooperative acid-base effects with functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles: applications in carbon-carbon bond-formation reactions

Acid-base bifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) were prepared by a one-step synthesis by co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and silanes possessing amino and/or sulfonic acid groups. Both the functionality and morphology of the particles can be controlled. The grafted functional groups were characterized by using solid-state (29)Si and (13)C cross-polarization/magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and elemental analysis, whereas the structural and the morphological features of the materials were evaluated by using XRD and N(2) adsorption-desorption analyses, and SEM imaging. The catalytic activities of the mono- and bifunctional mesoporous hybrid materials were evaluated in carbon-carbon coupling reactions like the nitroaldol reaction and the one-pot deacetalization-nitroaldol and deacetalization-aldol reactions. Among all the catalysts evaluated, the bifunctional sample containing amine and sulfonic acid groups (MSN-NNH(2)-SO(3)H) showed excellent catalytic activity, whereas the homogeneous catalysts were unable to initiate the reaction due to their mutual neutralization in solution. Therefore a cooperative acid-base activation is envisaged for the carbon-carbon coupling reactions.