Jairo Cubillos

Effect of the substrate and catalyst chirality on the diastereoselective epoxidation of limonene using Jacobsen-type catalysts.

Chiral and achiral Jacobsens catalysts in their homogeneous form or immobilized on Al-MCM-41 exhibit similar catalytic activity during diastereoselective epoxidation of limonene when in situ generated dimethyldioxirane is used as oxidizing agent. Experimental observations suggest that not only the catalyst chiral center but also the substrate chiral center participates in the preferential formation of most diastereomers. Remarkable turnover numbers (TON), up to 288, was achieved over the heterogeneous catalysts in comparison to their homogeneous counterparts (TON up to 46). Catalyst leaching rather than catalyst oxidative degradation was identified as the main source of catalyst deactivation during reutilization tests.

New application of decaniobate salt as basic solid in the synthesis of 4 H -pyrans by microwave assisted multicomponent reactions

This study focuses on the search of new applications of polyoxometalates known as decaniobate ions [Nb10O28]6−. The decaniobates can be used as basic solid catalysts in multicomponent reactions to obtain good yields to 4H-pyrans (> 95%) under microwave radiation and solvent-free conditions, using several aldehydes with different electron-withdrawing or electron donor substituents. The synthesis of (TMA)6 [Nb10O28]6H2O was performed following a simple protocol (HPNb), which was modified to decrease the number of hexaniobate species that are formed as impurities (HPNb-HF).