Investigation of the catalytic activity of an electron-deficient vanadium(IV) tetraphenylporphyrin: A new, highly efficient and reusable catalyst for ring-opening of epoxides

Light-Driven Waste-To-Value Upcycling: Bio-Based Polyols and Polyurethanes from the Photo-Oxygenation of Cardanols

The upcycling of waste biomass into valuable materials by resource-efficient chemical transformations is a prime objective for sustainable chemistry. This approach is demonstrated in a straightforward light-driven synthesis of polyols and polyurethane foams from the multi-ton waste products of cashew nut processing. The photo-oxygenation of cardanol from nutshell oil results in the formation of synthetically versatile hydroperoxides. The choice of the workup method (i. e., reduction, hydrogenation, epoxidation) enables access to a diverse range of alcohols with tunable alkene and OH functions. Condensation with isocyanates to give rigid polyurethane foams provides a resource-efficient waste-to-value chain that benefits from the availability of cardanol and installation of OH groups from aerial O2 .

Studies of the Catalytic Activity of Iron (III) Porphyrins for the Protection of Carbonyl Groups in Homogeneous Media

The protection of carbonyl groups that produce acetal products is a key reaction in fine chemistry due to the high reactivity of aldehydes and ketones in certain media. This process can be catalyzed by protic or Lewis acids. Since metalloporphyrins often possess free axial positions in the central metal, they can be applied as Lewis acid catalysts, allowing the additional coordination of substrates. Therefore, three ferric complexes were selected to be evaluated as catalysts for the acetalization of benzaldehyde with ethanol and triethyl orthoformate (TEOF) in the homogeneous phase: (i) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(phenylporphyrin) iron (III) chloride (Fe0F); (ii) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2,6-difluorphenylporphyrin) iron (III) chloride (Fe2F); and (iii) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorphenylporphyrin) iron (III) chloride (Fe5F). The complex Fe5F showed the highest catalytic activity, and kinetic parameters were evaluated for this reaction, exhibiting an increasing rate of reaction of about 550-fold in comparison with the non-catalyzed reaction. The reaction scope was also investigated, and Fe5F was found to be active for the acetalization of benzaldehyde and acetophenone, with different protective agents such as alcohols, glycols, glycerol, and epoxide being selective for the formation of cyclic acetals. The protection of benzaldehyde with ethylene glycol and propylene glycol were also studied at different temperatures, and turnover frequency (TOF) values of up to 360 h−1 were determined at 40 °C in homogenous media without the need for solvent or drying agents.

Heterogeneous Acidic and Eco-Friendly Reagents for Mild and Convenient Conversion of Epoxides to 1,2-Diacetates

A highly regioselective ring-opening of epoxides with acetic anhydride in the presence of hydrated disodium hydrogen phosphate and sodium hydrogen sulfate as efficient and eco-friendly reagents is described. The reactions are clean and lead to 1,2-diacetates in high to excellent yields.

Catalytic Enantioselective Conversion of Epoxides to Thiiranes

A highly efficient and enantioselective Brønsted acid catalyzed conversion of epoxides to thiiranes has been developed. The reaction proceeds in a kinetic resolution, furnishing both epoxide and thiirane in high yields and enantiomeric purity. Heterodimer formation between the catalyst and sulfur donor affords an effective way to prevent catalyst decomposition and enables catalyst loadings as low as 0.01 mol %.

Synthesis of β-phthalimido-alcohols via regioselective ring opening of epoxide by using reusable basic magnetic nano particles and their biological investigation

In this work, regioselective ring opening of epoxides including aromatic and aliphatic epoxides to give β-phthalimido-alcohols has been reported.

Stable and catalytically active iron porphyrin-based porous organic polymer: Activity as both a redox and Lewis acid catalyst

A new porphyrin-based porous organic polymer (POP) with BET surface area ranging from 780 to 880 m²/g was synthesized in free-base form via the reaction of meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) porphyrin and a rigid trigonal building block, hexahydroxytriphenylene. The material was then metallated with Fe(III) imparting activity for Lewis acid catalysis (regioselective methanolysis ring-opening of styrene oxide), oxidative cyclization catalysis (conversion of bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthyl)methanes to the corresponding spirodienone), and a tandem catalytic processes: an in situ oxidation-cyclic aminal formation-oxidation sequence, which selectively converts benzyl alcohol to 2-phenyl-quinazolin-4(3H)-one. Notably, the catalyst is readily recoverable and reusable, with little loss in catalytic activity.