γ‐Alumina supported Cu‐Ni bimetallic catalysts: Characterization and selective hydrogenation of 1,3‐butadiene

Addition of a second metal often improves the selectivity of a supported catalyst for the hydrogenation of 1,3‐butadiene. Catalysts containing 15 wt% Ni and varying amounts of Cu were prepared and characterized by TPR, XRD and XPS. The Cu‐Ni interaction affects the reduction behavior of the catalysts. TPR result shows that the synergetic effect of copper and nickel modifies the capability of metal to combine with hydrogen in bulk phase. The Ni 2p spectra in XPS shows significant shifts toward lower binding energies with increasing copper loading. From XRD results it is represented that aggregation of nickel occurs more easily due to the copper addition. The adding of copper on Ni/Al₂O₃ makes the conversion rate decreased and increases the selectivity to 1‐butene.     

A comparative study on the selective hydrogenation of α,β unsaturated aldehyde and ketone to unsaturated alcohols on Au supported catalysts

The hydrogenation of trans,4-phenyl,3-buten,2-one (benzalacetone) and trans,3-phenyl, propenal (cinnamaldehyde) was carried out on Au supported on iron oxides catalysts. Commercial goethite (FeOOH), maghemite (γFe₂O₃) and hematite (αFe₂O₃) were used as supports. The catalytic activity of Au/Fe₂O₃ reference catalyst, supplied by the World Gold Council, was also investigated. Gold catalysts and the parent supports were characterized by BET, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), temperature programmed desorption of ammonia (NH₃-TPD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM).Among the catalysts investigated Au supported on FeOOH shows the highest activity and selectivity to UA in the hydrogenation of unsaturated carbonyl compounds whereas Au supported on αFe₂O₃ are the less active and selective catalysts.The catalytic activity and selectivity to unsaturated alcohols (UA) in the hydrogenation of benzalacetone and cinnamaldehyde are less influenced by the morphology of gold particles and are mainly influenced by the nature of the support.A correlation between the reducibility of the catalysts and the activity and selectivity to UA has been found. Increasing the reducibility of the catalysts both the activity and selectivity to UA increase. These results let us to argue that active and selective sites are formed by negative gold particles formed through the electron transfer from the reduced support to the metal.     

Selectivity aspects in the multi-phase hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes over supported noble metal catalysts: Part I

The selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde and other unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes under a two-phase liquid system using toluene and aqueous alkaline solution over supported palladium catalysts has been investigated with a view to obtaining the corresponding saturated aldehydes with sufficiently high selectivities. In the case of cinnamaldehyde, the effects of various process parameters on the reaction rate and selectivity with respect to the aldehyde have been investigated. The results obtained are likely to be useful for the rational design of the process for the production of industrially relevant products, such as hydrocinnamaldehyde and citronellal using cinnamaldehyde and citral as the starting materials.     

Amine‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Epoxidation of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

The direct organocatalytic enantioselective epoxidation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes with different peroxides is presented. Proline, chiral pyrrolidine derivatives, and amino acid‐derived imidazolidinones catalyze the asymmetric epoxidation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes. In particular, protected commercially available α,α‐diphenyl‐ and α,α‐di(β‐naphthyl)‐2‐prolinols catalyze the asymmetric epoxidation reactions of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes with high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities to furnish the corresponding 2‐epoxy aldehydes in high yield with up to 97:3 dr and 98 % ee. The use of non‐toxic catalysts, water and hydrogen peroxide, urea hydroperoxide or sodium percarbonate as the oxygen sources could make this reaction environmentally benign. In addition, one‐pot direct organocatalytic asymmetric tandem epoxidation‐Wittig reactions are described. The reactions were highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective and provide a rapid access to 2,4‐diepoxy aldehydes. Moreover, a highly stereoselective one‐pot organocatalytic asymmetric cascade epoxidation‐Mannich reaction, which proceeds via the combination of iminium and enamine activation, is presented. The mechanism and stereochemistry of the amino acid‐ and chiral pyrrolidine‐catalyzed direct asymmetric epoxidation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes are also discussed.     

Vapor‐phase selective hydrogenation of citral over Pd/bentonite: effect of reduction method

BACKGROUND: Well‐dispersed nanoparticles of palladium were synthesized by wet impregnation technique over bentonite followed by three different reduction methods (H₂ or NaBH₄ or ethanol) and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, temperature‐programmed reduction and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Hydrogenation of citral over Pd‐supported bentonite catalysts was studied in vapor phase using a micro‐reactor. The effect of reduction method and metal loading on the conversion of citral and selectivity towards nerol and geraniol were examined. RESULTS: Among the catalysts evaluated in the vapor phase, Pd/bentonite reduced by ethanol was found to give the highest conversion and Pd/bentonite reduced by NaBH₄ was found to give the highest selectivity towards nerol and geraniol. This may be attributed to the smallest particle size of Pd in the former catalyst and presence of boron species on the latter catalyst, respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of boron in proximity to palladium particles polarized C?O bond and helped C?O adsorption, thereby yielding nerol and geraniol (the unsaturated alcohols). Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Palladium‐Catalysed Enantioselective Conjugate Addition of Aromatic Amines to α,β‐Unsaturated N‐Imides. Effect of the Chelating Moiety

Palladium‐catalysed enantioselective additions of aromatic amines to α,β‐unsaturated N‐imides 4 – 6 are reported. The N‐substituent of the Michael acceptor appears to have an unusual modulating effect on the amine activity. The effects of introducing different substituents are examined. Overall, the yield and selectivity of the system appear to be less sensitive to environmental effects than previous systems. The importance of the counteranion is revealed.     

Heck Arylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

The Heck arylation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes is strongly dependent on the catalyst, the solvent and the base. Optimized conditions yielded either selectively cinnamyl derivatives (83%) or double arylation products (88% based on aryl conversion). A new α‐arylation of β,β‐disubstituted acrolein is also realized.     

Pd/Al2O3催化剂用于连续重整汽油全馏分加氢的失活分析

研究了负载在氧化铝载体上的贵金属Pd基催化剂在重整生成油选择性加氢脱烯烃反应中的性能。结果表明,在连续重整生成油全馏分的选择性加氢实验中，采用现有工业常用的工艺条件，单使用Pd作活性组分的Pd/Al₂O₃催化剂不能满足产品质量要求。探讨了切割馏分油加氢反应中催化剂失活原因，并对失活前后的催化剂采用XRD、SEM和FTIR等手段进行分析表征。结果表明，造成催化剂失活原因是催化剂表面油品中重组分等热敏类物质强吸附或聚合作用的结果。改进后的双金属Pd基催化剂UDO-01可用于重整生成油全馏分的选择性加氢脱烯烃反应，加氢后产品的溴价小于200 mg Br·(100 g-油)^-1,芳烃损失小于0.5%，且表现出好的稳定性。     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Construction of Spirooxindoles by Arylative Cyclization of 3‐(γ,δ‐Disubstituted)allylidene‐2‐Oxindoles

The palladium‐catalyzed, one‐pot arylative cyclization of 3‐(γ,δ‐disubstituted)allylidene‐2‐oxindoles afforded spirodihydronaphthalene‐2‐oxindole frameworks via an oxidative Heck arylation (Fujiwara–Moritani reaction), an allylic palladium migration, and an aryl C H bond functionalization/arylation cascade of reactions. This is a first example of the palladium‐catalyzed oxidative arylation and an aryl C H bond functionalization/arylation cascade reaction which involves an electrophilic arylative quenching of a π‐allylpalladium intermediate and a regio‐controlled aryl C H bond activation assisted by a weak palladium‐arene interaction.

     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Oxidative Heck‐Type Allylation of β,β‐Disubstituted Enones with Allyl Carbonates

The palladium‐catalyzed oxidative Heck‐type allylation of β,β‐disubstituted enones, i.e., α‐oxoketene dithioacetals, was efficiently realized with allyl carbonates, providing a concise route to highly functionalized dienes. The present synthetic methodology utilizes the substrate activation strategy to activate the C H bond of β,β‐disubstituted enones by introduction of a 1,2‐dithiolane functionality to make the enone substrate highly polarized and thus increase its reactivity, demonstrating rare examples for transition metal‐catalyzed allylic substitution of ß,ß‐disubstituted enones through a Heck‐type allylation process.

     

Chemoselective Hydrogenation of α,β‐Unsaturated Nitriles

The chemoselective hydrogenation of cinnamonitrile to 3‐phenylallylamine proceeds with up to 80% selectivity at conversions of >90% with Raney cobalt and up to 60% selectivity with Raney nickel catalysts. Best results were obtained with a doped Raney cobalt catalyst (RaCo/Cr/Ni/Fe 2724) in ammonia saturated methanol at 100 °C and 80 bar. Major problems are the formation of hydrocinnamonitrile and of secondary amines, and overreduction to 3‐phenylpropylamine. Important parameters are the catalyst type and composition, the solvent type and the presence and concentration of ammonia. The catalytic system tolerates functional groups like OH, OMe, Cl, CO, but not aromatic nitro groups. Preliminary experiments indicate that other unsaturated nitriles with di‐ or trisubstituted CC bonds are also suitable substrates.     

载体对不饱和醛/酮中C=O选择性加氢催化剂性能的影响

研究载体活性炭对沉淀法制备的Pd/C催化剂催化活性的影响,在不饱和醛/酮加氢反应中通过考察载体粒度和试剂改性等条件对催化剂催化活性以及C=O选择性的影响。结果表明,将粒度(100~200)目的活性炭在80℃的10%HNO_3溶液中浸泡120 min,洗涤干燥后得到活性炭载体制备的Pd/C催化剂具有较高的活性和C=O选择性,不饱和醛转化率达95.2%,不饱和醇选择性达96.3%。     

Iridium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrogenation of β,β‐Disubstituted Nitroalkenes

A highly efficient, iridium‐catalyzed, enantioselective hydrogenation of β,β‐disubstituted nitroalkenes has been developed. Using a complex consisting of iridium and (S,S)‐f‐spiroPhos as the catalyst, a variety of β,β‐disubstituted nitroalkenes were successfully hydrogenated to the corresponding chiral nitroalkanes with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) and high turnover numbers (TON=1000).

     

β‐Aryl Nitrile Construction via Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Benzylation of α‐Cyano Aliphatic Carboxylate Salts

The palladium‐catalyzed decarboxylative benzylation of α‐cyano aliphatic carboxylate salts with benzyl electrophiles was discovered. This reaction exhibits good functional group compatibility and proceeds under relatively mild conditions. A diverse range of quaternary, tertiary and secondary β‐aryl nitriles can be conveniently prepared by this method.     

Selectivity aspects in the multi-phase hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes over supported noble metal catalysts: Part II

The hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to cinnamyl alcohol over a platinum on carbon catalyst could be intensified and made more selective in a two-phase system using toluene and aqueous alkaline solution. Enhancement in the selectivity with respect to citronellol was noticed in the two-phase hydrogenation of citronellal, while the reaction rate was marginally affected. Potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide were found to be efficient promoters.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Allylic Dearomatization Reaction of α‐Substituted β‐Naphthol Derivatives: Scope and Mechanistic Investigation

A highly efficient dearomatization reaction of α‐substituted β‐naphthols with excellent chemoselectivity and regioselectivity has been developed. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that the dearomatized alkylation product is the thermodynamically more stable compound. The etherification product could be further transformed to the dearomatization product.

     

Convenient Preparation of Chiral α,β‐Epoxy Ketones via Claisen–Schmidt Condensation‐Epoxidation Sequence

A novel Clasisen–Schmidt condensation‐epoxidation sequence of aldehydes and ketones was developed to produce a series of chiral α,β‐epoxy ketones under asymmetric phase‐transfer catalytic conditions. The organocatalytic method reported here can afford chiral α,β‐epoxy ketones under mild conditions with moderate to good yields and up to 96 % ee.