Abstract

Heterogeneous Electrophilic Catalysis in Flow

Dean Toste, Professor, University of California Berkeley

The design and development of metal-cluster based heterogeneous catalysts with high activity, selectivity, and stability under solution-phase reaction conditions will enable their applications as recyclable catalysts in large-scale fine chemical production. Towards this goal, the in situ activation of silica supported encapsulated late metal nanoparticles allowed these heterogeneous catalysts to be employed in p-bond activation reactions previously catalyzed by homogeneous transition metal complexes. Moreover, the use of these nanoparticle-based catalysts in fixed-bed flow reactors enabled fine control over the reactant residence time and influence over product distribution. The key factors leading to the observed catalytic performance were examined by a combination of in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), infrared (IR) microspectroscopy and reaction kinetic studies.