Karl P. J. Gustafson

Co-immobilization of an Enzyme and a Metal into the Compartments of Mesoporous Silica for Cooperative Tandem Catalysis : An Artificial Metalloenzyme

Surpassing nature: A hybrid catalyst in which Candida antarctica lipase B and a nanopalladium species are co-immobilized into the compartments of mesoporous silica is presented. The metal nanoparti ...

Mild and Selective Hydrogenation of Nitro Compounds using Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Amino‐Functionalized Mesocellular Foam

We present the utilization of a heterogeneous catalyst comprised of Pd nanoparticles supported on aminopropyl‐functionalized siliceous mesocellular foam (Pd0–AmP–MCF) for the selective hydrogenation of aromatic, aliphatic, and heterocyclic nitro compounds to the corresponding amines. In general, the catalytic protocol exclusively affords the desired amine products in excellent yields within short reaction times with the reactions performed at room temperature under ambient pressure of H2. Moreover, the reported Pd nanocatalyst displayed excellent structural integrity for this transformation as it could be recycled multiple times without any observable loss of activity or leaching of metal. In addition, the Pd nanocatalyst could be easily integrated into a continuous‐flow device and used for the hydrogenation of 4‐nitroanisole on a 2.5 g scale, where the product p‐anisidine was obtained in 95 % yield within 2 h with a Pd content of less than 1 ppm.

Chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Primary Amines Using a Recyclable Palladium Nanoparticle Catalyst Together with Lipases

A catalyst consisting of palladium nanoparticles supported on amino-functionalized siliceous mesocellular foam (Pd-AmP-MCF) was used in chemoenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) to convert primary amines to amides in high yields and excellent ees. The efficiency of the nanocatalyst at temperatures below 70 °C enables reaction conditions that are more suitable for enzymes. In the present study, this is exemplified by subjecting 1-phenylethylamine (1a) and analogous benzylic amines to DKR reactions using two commercially available lipases, Novozyme-435 (Candida antartica Lipase B) and Amano Lipase PS-C1 (lipase from Burkholderia cepacia) as biocatalysts. The latter enzyme has not previously been used in the DKR of amines because of its low stability at temperatures over 60 °C. The viability of the heterogeneous Pd-AmP-MCF was further demonstrated in a recycling study, which shows that the catalyst can be reused up to five times.

Mild Deoxygenation of Aromatic Ketones and Aldehydes over Pd/C Using Polymethylhydrosiloxane as the Reducing Agent

Herein, a practical and mild method for the deoxygenation of a wide range of benzylic aldehydes and ketones is described, which utilizes heterogeneous Pd/C as the catalyst together with the green hydride source, polymethylhydrosiloxane. The developed catalytic protocol is scalable and robust, as exemplified by the deoxygenation of ethyl vanillin, which was performed on a 30 mmol scale in an open-to-air setup using only 0.085 mol % Pd/C catalyst to furnish the corresponding deoxygenated product in 93 % yield within 3 hours at room temperature. Furthermore, the Pd/C catalyst was shown to be recyclable up to 6 times without any observable decrease in efficiency and it exhibited low metal leaching under the reaction conditions.

Application of Pd Nanoparticles Supported on Mesoporous Hollow Silica Nanospheres for the Efficient and Selective Semihydrogenation of Alkynes

Herein, the preparation of a heterogeneous catalyst consisting of 1–2 nm sized Pd nanoparticles supported on amino‐functionalized mesoporous hollow silica nanospheres and its use for the semihydrogenation of mono‐ and disubstituted alkynes is reported. By utilizing this Pd nanocatalyst together with the green poisoning agent DMSO, high yields of the desired alkenes could be achieved, while suppressing the degree of over‐reduction to alkanes. To our delight, the Pd nanocatalyst displayed remarkable chemoselectivity towards the alkyne moiety, allowing the transformation to be carried out in the presence of other reducible functionalities, such as halogens, carbonyl, and nitro groups.

Synthesis of Benzofurans and Indoles from Terminal Alkynes and Iodoaromatics Catalyzed by Recyclable Palladium Nanoparticles Immobilized on Siliceous Mesocellular Foam

Herein, we report on the utilization of a heterogeneous catalyst, consisting of Pd nanoparticles supported on a siliceous mesocellular foam (Pd0 -AmP-MCF), for the synthesis of heterocycles. Reaction of o-iodophenols and protected o-iodoanilines with acetylenes in the presence of a Pd nanocatalyst produced 2-substituted benzofurans and indoles, respectively. In general, the catalytic protocol afforded the desired products in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions without the addition of ligands. Moreover, the structure of the reported Pd nanocatalyst was further elucidated with extended X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy, and it was proven that the catalyst could be recycled multiple times without significant loss of activity.

Chemoenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of Secondary Alcohols Using an Air‐ and Moisture‐Stable Iron Racemization Catalyst

Herein, we report on a metalloenzymatic dynamic kinetic resolution of sec-alcohols employing an iron-based racemization catalyst together with a lipase. The iron catalyst was evaluated in racemization and then used in dynamic kinetic resolution of a number of sec-alcohols to give enantiomerically pure products in good to high yields. The iron catalyst is air and moisture stable and is readily accessible.

Well‐Defined Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Siliceous Mesocellular Foam as Heterogeneous Catalysts for the Oxidation of Water

Herein, we describe the use of Pd nanoparticles immobilized on an amino-functionalized siliceous mesocellular foam for the catalytic oxidation of H2O. The Pd nanocatalyst proved to be capable of mediating the four-electron oxidation of H2O to O2, both chemically and photochemically. The Pd nanocatalyst is easy to prepare and shows high chemical stability, low leaching, and recyclability. Together with its promising catalytic activity, these features make the Pd nanocatalyst of potential interest for future sustainable solar-fuel production.

Evaluation of Fe and Ru Pincer-Type Complexes as Catalysts for the Racemization of Secondary Benzylic Alcohols.

Fe and Ru pincer-type catalysts are used for the racemization of benzylic alcohols. Racemization with the Fe catalyst was achieved within 30 minutes under mild reaction conditions, with a catalyst loading as low as 2 mol %. This reaction constitutes the first example of an iron-catalyzed racemization of an alcohol. The efficiency for racemization of the Fe catalyst and its Ru analogue was evaluated for a wide range of sec-benzylic alcohols. The commercially available Ru complex proved to be highly robust and even tolerated the presence of water in the reaction mixture.

Water oxidation mediated by ruthenium oxide nanoparticles supported on siliceous mesocellular foam

Artificial photosynthesis is an attractive strategy for converting solar energy into fuel. In this context, development of catalysts for oxidation of water to molecular oxygen remains a critical bottleneck. Herein, we describe the preparation of a well-defined nanostructured RuO2 catalyst, which is able to carry out the oxidation of water both chemically and photochemically. The developed heterogeneous RuO2 nanocatalyst was found to be highly active, exceeding the performance of most known heterogeneous water oxidation catalysts when driven by chemical or photogenerated oxidants.