Catalysis

A brief summary of very recently published works on vibrational spectroscopic studies of adsorbed molecules (a) on metal single crystals or evaporated films with low surface area and (b) on supported metal catalysts or metal oxide catalysts with large surface area is presented here. So far as (a) is concerned some new results of EELS, reflection-absorption IR spectroscopy and IR emission spectroscopy (with cooled monochromator or interferometer) are discussed. With regards to topic (b) absorption by the support materials (SiO₂, Al₂O₃, MgO, TiO₂, etc.) usually prevents access to the region below about 1200 cm^–1. Therefore we concentrate mainly on the methods (diffuse reflection, photoacoustic or emission spectroscopy) offering vibrational data in a wide frequency range. Some new developments in emission and FIR spectroscopy in our laboratory are discussed.     

IDPi Catalysis

High acidity and structural confinement are pivotal elements in asymmetric acid catalysis. The recently introduced imidodiphosphorimidate (IDPi) Brønsted acids have met with remarkable success in combining those features, acting as powerful Brønsted acid catalysts and “silylium” Lewis acid precatalysts in numerous thus far inaccessible transformations. Substrates as challenging to activate as simple olefins were readily transformed, ketones were employed as acceptors in aldolizations allowing sub‐ppm level catalysis, whereas enolates of the smallest donor aldehyde, acetaldehyde, did not polymerize but selectively added a single time to a variety of acceptor aldehydes.     

Processive Catalysis

Nature’s enzymes are an ongoing source of inspiration for scientists. The complex processes behind their selectivity and efficiency is slowly being unraveled, and these findings have spawned many biomimetic catalysts. However, nearly all focus on the conversion of small molecular substrates. Nature itself is replete with inventive catalytic systems which modify, replicate, or decompose entire polymers, often in a processive fashion. Such processivity can, for example, enhance the rate of catalysis by clamping to the polymer substrate, which imparts a large effective molarity. Reviewed herein are the various strategies for processivity in nature’s arsenal and their properties. An overview of what has been achieved by chemists aiming to mimic one of nature’s greatest tricks is also included.     

Ligand-Accelerated Catalysis

The search for new metal-catalyzed asymmetric reactions has provided some fascinating insights into the effects imposed on the metal catalysts by chiral ligands. A practical consequence is the discovery of ligand-accelerated catalysis (LAC). Thus, an existing catalyzed process is improved by the addition of a specific ligand, which leads to a faster, “ligand-accelerated” reaction. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts are known to exhibit this behavior. The concept is especially valuable in reactions catalyzed by early transition metals, where dynamic ligand exchange processes require an efficient in situ self-selection of a highly reactive catalyst from a variety of thermodynamically dictated assemblies. Results of detailed mechanistic studies will be presented, and the significance of LAC phenomena in transformations catalyzed by early and late transition metals will be discussed.     

Surface Organometallic Chemistry for Single-site Catalysis and Single-atom Catalysis

Although driven by different research interests, single-site catalysts and single-atom catalysts are both believed to be model systems bridging homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. The two concepts are similar but different. In this review, we will first explain the difference between single-atom catalysis and single-site catalysis, in terms of their goals, synthetic methods and coordination structures of corresponding catalysts. Then, we will introduce the surface organometallic chemistry method, a method traditionally used for synthesizing single-site catalyst. We will explain why it might benefit the single-atom catalysis community. At last, the choice of support to accommodate the method for synthesizing single-atom catalysts will be discussed.     

稀土金属在不对称催化中的应用:从均相催化到异相催化

稀土金属的配位数较高,可通过容纳大型手性配体,构筑手性环境,催化不对称反应的定向发生,在工业生产特别是制药工程中具有重要应用价值。本文以Henry反应、Mannich反应和Strecker反应为例,总结回顾了稀土金属催化剂在此类反应中的设计思路、性能特点与应用前景,旨在展现稀土金属催化剂兼具融合均相催化与异相催化的优势,不断发展,以满足实际生产需求的过程。     

Organo-Polyoxometalate-Based Hydrogen-Bond Catalysis

Several urea-inserted organo-polyoxometalates (POMs) derived from polyoxotungstovanadate [P₂V₃W₁₅O₆₁]⁹⁻ were prepared. The insertion of the carbonyl into the polyoxometallic framework activates the urea toward Hydrogen-bond catalysis. This was shown on the Friedel-Crafts arylation of trans-β-nitrostyrene. Modelling shows that the most stable form of the organo-POMs features a cis-trans arrangement of the two N−H bonds, but that the likely catalytically active trans-trans form is accessible at room temperature. Finally, it is possible that the oxo substituents next to the vanadium atoms may help the approach of the nucleophile via H-bonding.     

Mesolevel Bifunctional Catalysis

Kinetics and Catalysis - The review is focused on requirements for technical bifunctional catalysts containing, in addition to a metal phase and an acid support (zeolite), various components...     

Asymmetric Phase-Transfer Catalysis

Both in the laboratory and industrially , phase-transfer catalysis offers the potential to induce asymmetry into reactions with anionic intermediates. Equation (a) provides an example (conditions: a) 10 mol % phase-transfer catalyst, BnBr, CsOH⋅H₂O, PhMe, 15–24 h, −78°C).     

仿生邻醌催化

醌酶是一类以邻醌结构作为辅酶因子,能够参与生物体内醇类和胺类氧化代谢的氧化还原酶。在醌酶发现之初,由于其独特的氧化能力就备受化学家关注。在过去的二十年间,有机化学家受到醌酶中铜胺氧化酶的启发,设计发展出多种用于胺类化合物氧化的小分子邻醌催化剂。这些催化剂不仅能够模拟铜胺氧化酶的氧化能力,更有一些显示出了超越醌酶的反应活性,将底物从伯胺拓展到了α-支链伯胺、仲胺、叔胺等等。此外,在最近十年内,新发现的以稀土元素为中心金属的甲醇脱氢酶更是极大地拓展了醌酶的种类与范围。本文将对醌酶进行概述,主要介绍以此为基础的仿生邻醌催化的研究进展,并展望邻醌催化的未来发展。     

Catalysis inside dendrimers

Catalytic sites can be placed at the core, at interior positions or at the periphery of a dendrimer. There are many examples of the use of peripherally functionalized dendrimers in catalysis and this subject has been thoroughly reviewed in the recent literature. This review is concerned only with dendrimer based catalysis involving catalytic sites at the core of a dendrimer and within the interior voids. In covering the significant achievements in this area, we have concentrated on examples that highlight key features with respect to positive and/or negative catalytic activity.     

缺陷与催化

催化技术在现代工业生产和日常生活中发挥着举足轻重的作用,开发高效的催化剂是催化领域重要的研究方向。近些年来,许多研究发现催化剂的缺陷对其催化活性有着重要的影响,同时各种各样的缺陷催化剂也被开发出来。尽管如此,缺陷与催化活性之间的关系仍有待厘清。本文围绕这一主题,分别介绍了固体缺陷化学的基础、催化剂中缺陷的类型、表征、可控构筑以及在催化中的作用和动态变化,最后进行总结和展望。希望通过本文阐明催化剂缺陷化学研究的起源与发展,强调缺陷对催化的重要性,为今后高效催化剂的进一步开发与机理研究提供指导。     

Catalysis in Korea

A brief history of catalysis community in Korea was reviewed together with examples of catalysts and catalytic processes developed by Korean industries. The Korea–Japan symposium on catalysis was introduced as one of successful examples of bilateral symposia co-organized by Korea.     

两相催化——均相催化多相化新进展*

评述了水溶性膦配体和两相催化研究领域的进展, 探讨了固载水相催化、温控相转移催化和氟两相体系等新型两相催化体系。两相催化在烯烃的氢甲酰化反应、不饱和化合物的加氢反应以及其它有机反应中获得了广泛的应用。     

Asymmetric Electrochemical Catalysis

Asymmetric electrochemical catalysis, an emerging frontline in asymmetric catalysis and electro-organic synthesis, is summarized. Representative works are classified, with respect to the external chiral resources, including chiral media, chiral mediator, chiral catalyst, and chiral electrode. This concept article is expected to provide readers with the general concepts and perspectives of each chiral electrochemical catalysis mode, and to indicate the potential and future development of asymmetric electrochemical catalysis.     

Catalysis and nanoscience

The development of synthetic catalysts is inspired by nature's use of enzymes to achieve high reaction rates and 100% selectivity. These natural catalysts often contain inorganic nanoclusters at the active site, and it is an understanding of the activity and selectivity of these nanoclusters and their interaction with the surrounding protein, which can aid in the design of synthetic catalysts. Since natural and synthetic catalysts are composed of these nanoclusters, the fields of catalysis and nanoscience are inextricably linked.