Selective oxidation using gold
TL;DR: This critical review covers the recent development of the catalytic properties of gold in the selective oxidation of organic compounds, highlighting the exciting contribution to the art of catalysis by international efforts towards optimised synthesis of products of industrial appeal.
Abstract: This critical review covers the recent development of the catalytic properties of gold in the selective oxidation of organic compounds, highlighting the exciting contribution to the art of catalysis. The unique, outstanding properties of nanometre-scale particles of gold, a biocompatible non-toxic metal, have allowed the development of a new generation of stable and selective catalysts for the conversion of many organic feedstocks to valuable chemicals. A critical discussion of the results of different research groups is presented along with attempts to correlate the catalytic properties with catalyst morphology in non-equivalent series of experiments. Particular emphasis has been given to the international efforts towards optimised synthesis of products of industrial appeal such as propylene oxide, vinyl acetate monomer, cyclohexanol/cyclohexanone, gluconic acid and glyceric acid (168 references).
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2,594 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a study on the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol by sodium borohydride in the presence of metal nanoparticles is presented, where the nanoparticles are embedded in spherical polyelectrolyte brushes.
Abstract: We present a study on the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol by sodium borohydride in the presence of metal nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are embedded in spherical polyelectrolyte brushes, which consist of a polystyrene core onto which a dense layer of cationic polyelectrolyte brushes are grafted. The average size of the nanoparticles is approximately 2 nm. The kinetic data obtained by monitoring the reduction of 4-nitrophenol by UV/vis-spectroscopy could be explained in terms of the Langmuir−Hinshelwood model: The borohydride ions transfer a surface-hydrogen species in a reversible manner to the surface. Concomitantly 4-nitrophenol is adsorbed and the rate-determining step consists of the reduction of nitrophenol by the surface-hydrogen species. The apparent reaction rate can therefore be related to the total surface S of the nanoparticles, to the kinetic constant k related to the rate-determining step, and to the adsorption constants KNip and KBH4 of nitrophenol and of borohydride, respectively. In...
1,047 citations
TL;DR: Positively-charged gold nanoparticles possess intrinsic peroxidase-like activity, and can catalyze oxidation of the per oxidase substrate 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine by H(2)O( 2) to develop a blue color in aqueous solution, thus providing a simple approach to colorimetric detection of H(1)O (2) and glucose.
824 citations
TL;DR: A broad spectrum of properties of EG and significant advances in the prevalent synthesis and applications of EG are described, with emphases on the catalytic reactivity and reaction mechanisms of the main synthetic methodologies and applied strategies.
Abstract: Ethylene glycol (EG) is an important organic compound and chemical intermediate used in a large number of industrial processes (e.g. energy, plastics, automobiles, and chemicals). Indeed, owing to its unique properties and versatile commercial applications, a variety of chemical systems (e.g., catalytic and non-catalytic) have been explored for the synthesis of EG, particularly via reaction processes derived from fossil fuels (e.g., petroleum, natural gas, and coal) and biomass-based resources. This critical review describes a broad spectrum of properties of EG and significant advances in the prevalent synthesis and applications of EG, with emphases on the catalytic reactivity and reaction mechanisms of the main synthetic methodologies and applied strategies. We also provide an overview regarding the challenges and opportunities for future research associated with EG.
746 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the adsorption properties and reactivities of gold are summarized in terms of their size dependency from bulk to fine particles, clusters and atoms, and the catalytic performances of gold markedly depend on dispersion, supports, and preparation methods.
3,854 citations
TL;DR: Important vinylgold intermediates, the transmetalation from gold to other transition metals, the development of new ligands for gold catalysis, and significant contributions from computational chemistry are other crucial points for the field highlighted here.
Abstract: Although homogeneous gold catalysis was known previously, an exponential growth was only induced 12 years ago. The key findings which induce that rise of the field are discussed. This includes early reactions of allenes and furanynes and intermediates of these conversions as well as hydroarylation reactions. Other substrate types addressed are alkynyl epoxides and N-propargyl carboxamides. Important vinylgold intermediates, the transmetalation from gold to other transition metals, the development of new ligands for gold catalysis, and significant contributions from computational chemistry are other crucial points for the field highlighted here.
2,792 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that Au/Pd-TiO2 catalysts give very high turnover frequencies (up to 270,000 turnovers per hour) for the oxidation of alcohols, including primary alkyl alcohols and the addition of Au to Pd nanocrystals improved the overall selectivity.
Abstract: The oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes with O2 in place of stoichiometric oxygen donors is a crucial process for the synthesis of fine chemicals. However, the catalysts that have been identified so far are relatively inactive with primary alkyl alcohols. We showed that Au/Pd-TiO2 catalysts give very high turnover frequencies (up to 270,000 turnovers per hour) for the oxidation of alcohols, including primary alkyl alcohols. The addition of Au to Pd nanocrystals improved the overall selectivity and, using scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we showed that the Au-Pd nanocrystals were made up of a Au-rich core with a Pd-rich shell, indicating that the Au electronically influences the catalytic properties of Pd.
1,907 citations
TL;DR: It is considered more feasible that the rate-deter-mining step is the cleavage of the C-H bond at the R-carbon atom, and the active site consists of an ensemble of metallic Auatoms and a cationic Au.
Abstract: ion from a primary OH group of glyc-erol. 223,231 A similar mechanism was proposed manyyears ago for alcohol oxidation on Pt/C, involving asecond step, the transfer of a hydride ion to the Ptsurface (Scheme 11). 8,87,237 We consider it more feasible that the rate-deter-mining step is the cleavage of the C-H bond at theR-carbon atom. A similar mechanism is now generallyaccepted for Au electrodes (Scheme 12). 238 Despite thestructural differences between Au nanoparticles andan extended Au electrode surface, there are alsosimilarities, such as the critical role of aqueousalkaline medium and the absence of deactivation dueto decomposition products (CO and C x H y frag-ments). 239,240 An important question is the nature of active siteson Au nanoparticles. Electrooxidation of ethanol onAu nanoparticles supported on glassy carbon re-quired the partial coverage of Au surface by oxides. 241 Another analogy might be the model proposed for COoxidation. 219,242,243 According to this suggestion, theactive site consists of an ensemble of metallic Auatoms and a cationic Au
1,784 citations
TL;DR: This Review draws on experimental and computational data to present the current understanding of homogeneous gold catalysis, focusing on previously unexplored reactivity and its application to the development of new methodology.
Abstract: Transition-metal catalysts containing gold present new opportunities for chemical synthesis, and it is therefore not surprising that these complexes are beginning to capture the attention of the chemical community. Cationic phosphine-gold(i) complexes are especially versatile and selective catalysts for a growing number of synthetic transformations. The reactivity of these species can be understood in the context of theoretical studies on gold; relativistic effects are especially helpful in rationalizing the reaction manifolds available to gold catalysts. This Review draws on experimental and computational data to present our current understanding of homogeneous gold catalysis, focusing on previously unexplored reactivity and its application to the development of new methodology.
1,534 citations