Fiona McKenzie, Executive Editor – Page 2 – Catalysis Science & Technology Blog

Author Archive

Copper NHCs in catalysis

21 Jan 2013

The first N-heterocyclic carbene-ligated coppper complex was made in the 90’s and no more than a decade later, their potential as catalysts was uncovered. As the number of Cu NHC complexes continues to grow, so does the number of catalytic possibilities.

In their Catalysis Science & Technology Mini Review, Researchers, Egbert, Cazin and Nolan from the University of St Andrews have outlined the reactions which benefit from this neat little complex; from hydrosilylations to allylic substitutions and click chemistry.

Download the article now…

Copper N-heterocyclic carbene complexes in catalysis
Jonathan D. Egbert, Catherine S. J. Cazin and Steven P. Nolan

Comments Off on Copper NHCs in catalysis

Meet us in 2013

14 Jan 2013

With the start of the calendar year, its as good a time as any to get thinking about where our 2013 travels will take us…

We are planning to attend the following conferences. Will you be there too?

245^th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, New Orleans, USA, 7th April 2013
96^th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, Québec, Canada, 26th May 2013
23^rd North American Catalysis Society meeting, Louisville, USA, 2nd June 2013
10^th Congress on Catalysis Applied to Fine Chemicals, Turku, Finland, 16th June 2013
20^th EuCheMS Conference on Organometallic Chemistry, 30th June 2013, St Andrews, UK
Gordon Research Conference: Organometallic Chemistry, Newport, Rhode Island, USA, 8th July 2013
EuropaCat 2013, Lyon, France, 1st September 2013
246^th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Indianapolis, USA, 8th September 2013

Please do let us know if you think you’ll be attending – we’d love to meet you!
	Jamie Humphrey, Editor	Fiona McKenzie, Deputy Editor

Comments Off on Meet us in 2013

Making the most of zeolites with graphite oxide

22 Oct 2012

Alexander Todd and Christopher Bielawski from the University of Texas, at Austin have combined zeolites with graphite oxide to enhance their catalytic activities when dehydrating alcohols.

Although both catalysts can be used independently, the team observed a synergistic activity when the catalysts were used in tandem.

Protic zeolites (where H⁺ is the counter cation) are usually prepared by either ion exchange or high temperature calcination of an ammonium ion exchanged precursor, although ion exchange is not really viable for zeolites with low silica content (such as NaY zeolites). However, Bielawski found that NaY zeolites could be used without either preparation step due to a little help from graphite oxide.

The researchers propose that H⁺ is released from the graphite oxide upon its dispersion in solvent which exchanges with the Na⁺ ion in the zeolites to produce the protic form. The graphite oxide–zeolite duo was found to catalyse the dehydration of secondary, tertiary and primary aliphatic alcohols to the corresponding olefinic products with very favourable conversions.

Download the Catalysis Science & Technology article now for more details…

Graphite oxide activated zeolite NaY: applications in alcohol dehydration
Alexander D. Todd and Christopher W. Bielawski

Comments Off on Making the most of zeolites with graphite oxide

Submissions open for Photocatalysis themed issue

11 Oct 2012

Submissions are now open for Catalysis Science & Technology‘s upcoming themed issue on photocatalysis.

The themed issue, guest edited by Professors Kazunari Domen and Licheng Sun, will focus on both homogeneous and heterogeneous photocatalysis research, providing insight into the fundamentals as well as the applicational development of photocatalytic reactions.

Manuscript deadline: 7^th January 2013

See our author guidelines, for information on article types. Please note that all manuscripts will undergo the usual standard of peer-review.

SUBMIT your manuscript now.
For any queries, please contact the Editorial Office.

Comments Off on Submissions open for Photocatalysis themed issue

Sequential synthesis to integrate catalysts – no need to purify

04 Oct 2012

Scientists from Spain have developed a new method for increasing yields in synthetic organic reactions.

One pot syntheses may seem like an attractive option for syntheses with multiple reaction steps but reagents are not always compatible, leading to serious reductions in yields. An alternative sequential approach has been adopted that allows several different heterogeneous catalysts to be used, producing the target compound in much higher yields than the classical approach. Three reactions are conducted in sequence by simply filtering the catalyst after each step and proceeding with the crude mixture.

Sound like a good idea? Read the article for more information…

Integration of Heterogeneous Catalysts into Complex Synthetic Routes: Sequential vs One-Pot Reactions in a (Knoevenagel + Mukaiyama-Michael + Hydrogenation + Transesterification) Sequence
J M Fraile et al, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012, DOI: 10.1039/c2cy20442h

Comments Off on Sequential synthesis to integrate catalysts – no need to purify

Theoretical study of palladium leaching

28 Sep 2012

A collaboration of scientists in China, Germany and Singapore have used a computational model to study palladium leaching processes under a carbon monoxide atmosphere.

Deactivation of solid catalysts is an important issue in chemical industries and other catalytic applications. One of the causes of deactivation is the loss of active component due to corrosion or leaching by the reaction medium.

The team found that the loss of the active metal component is governed by the structure of the catalyst surface and the pressure (coverage) of carbon monoxide. They concluded that Pd leaching is likely under common catalytic conditions.

To read about the proposed mechanism by which this occurs, read the article now…

Theoretical study on the leaching of palladium in a CO atmosphere
C.-R. Chang et al., Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012

Comments Off on Theoretical study of palladium leaching

Keeping coke in check

17 Sep 2012

There’s always room for improvement and with this at the forefront of their minds, Giuseppe Bellussi and colleagues from Eni, Italy have focused on “converting the bottom of the barrel” – that is, turning high molecualr weight oil fractions into lighter compounds in the more useful boiling point range.

There are several different technologies that address this (see the Catalysis Science & Technology article for more information) but Bellussi et al. have concentrated their efforts on upgrading the slurry bed technology – a process that so far has seen limited industrial development.

The slurry technology that Eni put their cracking catalyst/Mo₂S catalyst to use in

The key to their success in fully converting the heavy and extra heavy oils into the middle distillates was using a dual catalyst – a catalytic system which comprises both a conventional cracking catalyst and nano dispersed molybdenum disulfide, the latter of which is responsible for protecting the cracking catalyst from coke and metal deposition.

For more details, download the article now…

The role of MoS₂ nano-slabs in the protection of the heterogeneous cracking catalyst for the total conversion of heavy oils to good quality distillates
Giuseppe Bellussi, Giacomo Rispoli, Daniele Molinari, Alberto Landoni, Paolo Pollesel, Nicoletta Panariti, Roberto Millini and Erica Montanari

Comments Off on Keeping coke in check

Catalysis in industry themed issue now online

14 Sep 2012

This month’s Catalysis Science & Technology issue is the devoted to Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis in Industry.

The themed issue which is guest edited by Professors Hans de Vries (DSM and University of Groningen) and David Jackson (University of Glasgow) comprises a selection of articles that illustrate the research necessary for moving a reaction off the lab bench and into the industrial plant. Unsurprisingly, catalytic research is often key to this journey.

Select the links below to read the Editorial and review articles. The full issue can be accessed here.

Editorial
Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis in Industry; Johannes G. de Vries and S. David Jackson

Perspective
First-principles kinetic modeling in heterogeneous catalysis: an industrial perspective on best-practice, gaps and needs; Maarten K. Sabbe, Marie-Françoise Reyniers and Karsten Reuter

Mini Review
Advances in conversion of hemicellulosic biomass to furfural and upgrading to biofuels; Saikat Dutta, Sudipta De, Basudeb Saha and Md. Imteyaz Alam

Comments Off on Catalysis in industry themed issue now online

Steering aldoximes to primary or secondary amines

08 Aug 2012

Thomas Müller and colleagues have investigated the mechanism by which oximes are hydrogenated, usually giving a mixture of both primary and secondary amine products. Since primary amine functionality is desireable for many fine chemicals, it would be ideal to find a way to selectively generate primary amines in preference to their secondary relatives.

They disovered that the reaction proceeds via a pool of Schiff base and nitrile intermediates which can be directed towards primary or secondary amines depending on the choice of catalyst – first-row transition metal catalysts such as nickel encourage primary amine formation, whilst noble metal catalysts (Pd, Rh) encourage secondary amine formation.

To read about the reaction mechanism in detail, download the Catalysis Science & Technology article now…

Controlling Selectivity in the Reaction Network of Aldoxime Hydrogenation to Primary Amines
Ewa Gebauer-Henke, Walter Leitner, Angelina Prokofieva, Henning Vogt and Thomas Ernst Mueller

Comments Off on Steering aldoximes to primary or secondary amines

The cream of catalysis – top cited articles of 2011

07 Aug 2012

Looking back over our first year’s worth of articles, we are delighted with the high quality work being published by our authors.

Here are the articles that you are citing the most so far*…

Top cited Reviews

Challenge and progress: palladium-catalyzed sp³ C–H activation
Hu Li, Bi-Jie Li and Zhang-Jie Shi
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 191-206

Two-dimensional zeolites: dream or reality?
Wieslaw J. Roth and Jiří Čejka
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 43-53

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles for asymmetric catalysis—a perfect match
Kalluri V. S. Ranganath and Frank Glorius
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 13-22

Well-defined copper(I) complexes for Click azide–alkyne cycloaddition reactions: one Click beyond
Silvia Díez-González
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 166-178

Metal–organic frameworks as heterogeneous catalysts for oxidation reactions
Amarajothi Dhakshinamoorthy, Mercedes Alvaro and Hermenegildo Garcia
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 856-867

Chemocatalytic conversion of cellulose: opportunities, advances and pitfalls
Jan A. Geboers, Stijn Van de Vyver, Roselinde Ooms, Beau Op de Beeck, Pierre A. Jacobs and Bert F. Sels
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 714-726

Recent advances in asymmetric catalysis with cinchona alkaloid-based primary amines
Lin Jiang and Ying-Chun Chen
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 354-365

A review of the development of nitrogen-modified carbon-based catalysts for oxygen reduction at USC
Gang Liu, Xuguang Li, Jong-Won Lee and Branko N. Popov
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 207-217

Towards near zero-sulfur liquid fuels: a perspective review
Barbara Pawelec, Rufino M. Navarro, José Miguel Campos-Martin and José L. G. Fierro
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 23-42

Design of hierarchical zeolite catalysts by desilication
Danny Verboekend and Javier Pérez-Ramírez
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 879-890

Top cited articles

Synthesis, characterization and ethylene oligomerization behaviour of 8-(1-aryliminoethylidene)quinaldinylnickel dihalides
Shengju Song, Tianpengfei Xiao, Tongling Liang, Fosong Wang, Carl Redshaw and Wen-Hua Sun
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 69-75

Microwave-assisted synthesis of ZnO–graphene composite for photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI)
Xinjuan Liu, Likun Pan, Tian Lv, Ting Lu, Guang Zhu, Zhuo Sun and Changqing Sun
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 1189-1193

A straightforward zinc-catalysed reduction of sulfoxides to sulfides
Stephan Enthaler
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 104-110

Activity improvement of gold yolk–shell catalysts for CO oxidation by doping with TiO₂
Robert Güttel, Michael Paul and Ferdi Schüth
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 65-68

In situ green synthesis of Au nanostructures on graphene oxide and their application for catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol
Yingwei Zhang, Sen Liu, Wenbo Lu, Lei Wang, Jingqi Tian and Xuping Sun
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 1142-1144

SBA-15-Pr–SO₃H as nanoreactor catalyzed oxidation of sulfides into sulfoxides
Kiumars Bahrami, Mohammad M. Khodaei and Peyman Fattahpour
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 389-393

Synthesis and characterization of versatile MgO–ZrO₂ mixed metal oxide nanoparticles and their applications
Manoj B. Gawande, Paula S. Branco, Kalpesh Parghi, Janhavi J. Shrikhande, Rajesh Kumar Pandey, C. A. A. Ghumman, N. Bundaleski, O. M. N. D. Teodoro and Radha V. Jayaram
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 1653-1664

Gold(I)-catalyzed synthesis of furans and pyrroles via alkyne hydration
Pierrick Nun, Stéphanie Dupuy, Sylvain Gaillard, Albert Poater, Luigi Cavallo and Steven P. Nolan
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 58-61

Fabrication of a TiO₂ nanoparticles impregnated titanium mesh filter and its application for environmental purification
Tsuyoshi Ochiai, Toru Hoshi, Houda Slimen, Kazuya Nakata, Taketoshi Murakami, Hiro Tatejima, Yoshihiro Koide, Ammar Houas, Takuji Horie, Yuko Morito and Akira Fujishima
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 1324-1327

2-(1-Aryliminopropylidene)quinolylcobalt(II) dichlorides: synthesis, characterization and catalytic behaviour towards ethylene
Tianpengfei Xiao, Jingjuan Lai, Shu Zhang, Xiang Hao and Wen-Hua Sun
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 462-469

Selective oxidation of biorenewable glycerol with molecular oxygen over Cu-containing layered double hydroxide-based catalysts
Chun-Hui Zhou, Jorge N. Beltramini, Chun-Xiang Lin, Zhi-Ping Xu, G. Q. (Max) Lu and A. Tanksale
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2011, 1, 111-122

Why not have a look at some of our other article collections?

Monthly top-accessed content
Reviews in catalysis
Outstanding organocatalysis
Zeal for zeolites
Incredible ionic liquids

*(Thomson Reuters®)

Comments Off on The cream of catalysis – top cited articles of 2011

Catalysis Science & Technology Blog