M. J. Sharp

Bio: M. J. Sharp is an academic researcher from University of Guelph. The author has contributed to research in topics: Metalation & Directed ortho metalation. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 6 publications receiving 312 citations. Previous affiliations of M. J. Sharp include University of Waterloo.

Sequential directed ortho metalation-boronic acid cross-coupling reactions. A general regiospecific route to oxygenated dibenzo[b,d]pyran-6-ones related to ellagic acid

Abstract: A general regiospecific synthesis of dibenzo[b,d]pyran-6-one derivatives 1a,c and 8a-i related to ellagic acid is described (Scheme I, Table I). The sequence involves directed ortho metalation-boronation of benzamides 4 to give the arylboronic acids 5, which, upon palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling with alkoxybromobenzenes 6 leads to the biphenylamides 7. BBr 3 demethylation followed by acid-catalyzed cyclization affords pyranone 8. In this manner, the naturally occurring dibenzopyranones 1a, autumnariol (1c), and the heterocyclic analogue 13 (Scheme III) were efficiently prepared

Remote aromatic metalation. An anionic Friedel-Crafts equivalent for the regioselective synthesis of condensed fluorenones from biaryl and m-teraryl 2-amides

Abstract: Remote metalation (t-BuLi, LDA) of m-teraryl and biaryl amides constitutes a short and convenient route to a variety of substituted and condensed fluorenones, including aza analogues and the natural product, dengibsinin

Remote Aromatic Metalation. An Anionic Friedel-Crafts Equivalent for the Regioselective Synthesis of Condensed Fluorenones from Biaryl and m-Teraryl 2-Amides.

Abstract: Remote metalation (t-BuLi, LDA) of m-teraryl and biaryl amides constitutes a short and convenient route to a variety of substituted and condensed fluorenones, including aza analogues and the natural product, dengibsinin

Fabrication of hollow palladium spheres and their successful application to the recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for Suzuki coupling reactions

Abstract: Novel palladium hollow spheres were synthesized using silica spheres as a template, and they were successfully applied as recyclable heterogeneous catalysts for Suzuki cross coupling reactions.

Catalysis with transition metal nanoparticles in colloidal solution: nanoparticle shape dependence and stability.

Abstract: While the nanocatalysis field has undergone an explosive growth during the past decade, there have been very few studies in the area of shape-dependent catalysis and the effect of the catalytic process on the shape and size of transition metal nanoparticles as well as their recycling potential. Metal nanoparticles of different shapes have different crystallographic facets and have different fraction of surface atoms on their corners and edges, which makes it interesting to study the effect of metal nanoparticle shape on the catalytic activity of various organic and inorganic reactions. Transition metal nanoparticles are attractive to use as catalysts due to their high surface-to-volume ratio compared to bulk catalytic materials, but their surface atoms could be so active that changes in the size and shape of the nanoparticles could occur during the course of their catalytic function, which could also affect their recycling potential. In this Feature Article, we review our work on the effect of the shape of the colloidal nanocatalyst on the catalytic activity as well as the effect of the catalytic process on the shape and size of the colloidal transition metal nanocatalysts and their recycling potential. These studies provide important clues on the mechanism of the reactions we studied and also can be very useful in the process of designing better catalysts in the future.

Effect of catalysis on the stability of metallic nanoparticles: Suzuki reaction catalyzed by PVP-palladium nanoparticles.

Abstract: The small size of nanoparticles makes them attractive in catalysis due to their large surface-to-volume ratio. However, being small raises questions about their stability in the harsh chemical environment in which these nanoparticles find themselves during their catalytic function. In the present work, we studied the Suzuki reaction between phenylboronic acid and iodobenzene catalyzed by PVP-Pd nanoparticles to investigate the effect of catalysis, recycling, and the different individual chemicals on the stability and catalytic activity of the nanoparticles during this harsh reaction. The stability of the nanoparticles to the different perturbations is assessed using TEM, and the changes in the catalytic activity are assessed using HPLC analysis of the product yield. It was found that the process of refluxing the nanoparticles for 12 h during the Suzuki catalytic reaction increases the average size and the width of the distribution of the nanoparticles. This was attributed to Ostwald ripening in which the small nanoparticles dissolve to form larger nanoparticles. The kinetics of the change in the nanoparticle size during the 12 h period show that the nanoparticles increase in size during the beginning of the reaction and level off toward the end of the first cycle. When the nanoparticles are recycled for the second cycle, the average size decreases. This could be due to the larger nanoparticles aggregating and precipitating out of solution. This process could also explain the observed loss of the catalytic efficiency of the nanoparticles during the second cycle. It is also found that the addition of biphenyl to the reaction mixture results in it poisoning the active sites and giving rise to a low product yield. The addition of excess PVP stabilizer to the reaction mixture seems to lead to the stability of the nanoparticle surface and size, perhaps due to the inhibition of the Ostwald ripening process. This also decreases the catalytic efficiency of the nanoparticles due to capping of the nanoparticle surface. The addition of phenylboronic acid is found to lead to the stability of the size distribution as it binds to the particle surface through the O(-) of the OH group and acts as a stabilizer. Iodobenzene is found to have no effect and thus probably does not bind strongly to the surface during the catalytic process. These two results might have an implication on the catalytic mechanism of this reaction.