Mark J. Muldoon

Investigations of solvent–solute interactions in room temperature ionic liquids using solvatochromic dyes

Different measures of polarity and nucleophilicity of a range of ionic liquids have been investigated using two solvatochromic dyes; the polarity appears to be largely cation controlled, while the donor strength is entirely anion dependent.

Bimolecular rate constants for diffusion in ionic liquidsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Fig. S1: isokinetic plot obtained for the energy transfer reaction of 3BP* and N in five ionic liquids, toluene and acetonitrile. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b2/b202944h/

The temperature dependence of the bimolecular rate constants for a diffusion controlled reaction involving neutral reactants have been directly determined in five commonly used ionic liquids over the temperature range 5-70 degrees C.

Continuous flow hydroformylation using supported ionic liquid phase catalysts with carbon dioxide as a carrier

A supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) catalyst prepared from [PrMIM][Ph(2)P(3-C(6)H(4)SO(3))] (PrMIM = 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium), [Rh(CO)(2)(acac)] (acacH = 2,4-pentanedione) [OctMIM]NTf(2) (OctMIM = 1-n-octyl-3-methylimidazolium, Tf = CF(3)SO(2)) and microporous silica has been used for the continuous flow hydroformylation of 1-octene in the presence of compressed CO(2). Statistical experimental design was used to show that the reaction rate is neither much affected by the film thickness (IL loading) nor by the syngas:substrate ratio. However, a factor-dependent interaction between the syngas:substrate ratio and film thickness on the reaction rate was revealed. Increasing the substrate flow led to increased reaction rates but lower overall yields. One of the most important parameters proved to be the phase behaviour of the mobile phase, which was studied by varying the reaction pressure. At low CO(2) pressures or when N(2) was used instead of CO(2) rates were low because of poor gas diffusion to the catalytic sites in the SILP. Furthermore, leaching of IL and Rh was high because the substrate is liquid and the IL had been designed to dissolve in it. As the CO(2) pressure was increased, the reaction rate increased and the IL and Rh leaching were reduced, because an expanded liquid phase developed. Due to its lower viscosity the expanded liquid allows better transport of gases to the catalyst and is a poorer solvent for the IL and the catalyst because of its reduced polarity. Above 100 bar (close to the transition to a single phase at 106 bar), the rate of reaction dropped again with increasing pressure because the flowing phase becomes a better and better solvent for the alkene, reducing its partitioning into the IL film. Under optimised conditions, the catalyst was shown to be stable over at least 40 h of continuous catalysis with a steady state turnover frequency (TOF, mol product (mol Rh)(-1)) of 500 h(-1) at low Rh leaching (0.2 ppm). The selectivity of the catalyst was not much affected by the variation of process parameters. The linear:branched (l:b) ratios were ca. 3, similar to that obtained using the very same catalyst in conventional organic solvents.

Anionic N,O-ligated Pd(II) complexes: highly active catalysts for alcohol oxidation

There is a need to develop effective catalytic methods for alcohol oxidation. Pd(II) complexes have shown great promise as catalysts, however a comparatively small number of ligands have been reported so far. Herein we report the use of commercially available anionic N,O-ligands to produce highly active catalysts.

Ionic liquids: polar, but weakly coordinating solvents for the first biphasic oligomerisation of ethene to higher α-olefins with cationic Ni complexes

Ethylene oligomerisation in ionic liquids gives predominately alk-1-ene products with better reactivity and selectivity than in conventional solvents; turnover frequencies are correlated with polarity data obtained using solvatochromic dyes.

The synthesis of N -heterocycles via copper/TEMPO catalysed aerobic oxidation of amino alcohols

N-Heterocycles can be prepared using alcohol oxidation as a key synthetic step. Herein we report studies exploring the potential of Cu/TEMPO as an aerobic oxidation catalyst for the synthesis of substituted indoles and quinolines.

Cationic palladium(II) complexes as catalysts for the oxidation of terminal olefins to methyl ketones using hydrogen peroxide

Ligated Pd(II) complexes have been studied for the catalytic oxidation of terminal olefins to their corresponding methyl ketones. The method uses aqueous hydrogen peroxide as the terminal oxidant; a sustainable and readily accessible oxidant. The choice of ligand, counterion and solvent all have a significant effect on catalytic performance and we were able to develop systems which perform well for these challenging oxidations.

A highly efficient palladium(II)/polyoxometalate catalyst system for aerobic oxidation of alcohols

A simple catalyst system composed of Pd(OAc)2, phosphomolybdic acid and tetrabutylammonium acetate oxidises a range of alcohols efficiently, with turnover numbers (TONs) of up to 10 000.

Copper(I)/ketoABNO Catalysed Aerobic Alcohol Oxidation

A Cu(I)/9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3-one N-oxyl (ketoABNO) aerobic catalyst system is highly effective for the oxidation of secondary alcohols, including unactivated aliphatic substrates. The effects of pressure and gas composition on catalyst performance are examined. The radical can be employed at low loadings and is also amenable to immobilisation on to solid supports.

N,O-ligated Pd(II) complexes for catalytic alcohol oxidation

N,O-ligated Pd(II) complexes show considerable promise for the oxidation of challenging secondary aliphatic alcohols. The crystal structures of the highly active complexes containing the 8-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid (HCA) and 8-hydroxyquinoline-2-sulfonic acid (HSA) ligands have been obtained. The (HSA)Pd(OAc)2 system can effectively oxidise a range of secondary alcohols, including unactivated alcohols, within 4–6 h using loadings of 0.5 mol%, while lower loadings (0.2 mol%) can be employed with extended reaction times. The influence of reaction conditions on catalyst degradation was also examined in these studies.