Organic/inorganic polyoxometalate-based hybrids for oxidation catalysis and energy conversion

This thesis work has been carried out during the Erasmus exchange period at the “Université Paris 6 – Pierre et Marie Curie”, in the “Edifices PolyMétalliques – EPOM” team, leaded by Prof. Anna Proust, belonging to the “Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire”, under the supervision of Dr. Guillaume Izzet and Dr. Geoffroy Guillemot. The redox properties of functionalized Keggin and Dawson POMs have been exploited in photochemical, catalytic and reactivity tests. For the photochemical purposes, the selected POMs have been functionalized with different photoactive FGs, and the resulting products have been characterized by CV analyses, luminescence tests and UV-Vis analyses. In future, these materials will be tested for hydrogen photoproduction and polymerization of photoactive films. For the catalytic purposes, POMs have been firstly functionalized with silanol moieties, to obtain original coordination sites, and then post-functionalized with TMs such as V, Ti and Zr in their highest oxidation states. In this way, the catalytic properties of TMs were coupled to the redox properties of POM frameworks. The redox behavior of some of these hybrids has been studied by spectro-electrochemical and EPR methods. Catalytic epoxidation tests have been carried out on allylic alcohols and n-olefins, employing different catalysts and variable amounts of them. The performances of POM-V hybrids have been compared to those of VO(iPrO)3. Finally, reactivity of POM-VIII hybrids has been studied, using styrene oxide and ethyl-2-diazoacetate as substrates. All the obtained products have been analyzed via NMR techniques. Cyclovoltammetric analyses have been carried out in order to determine the redox behavior of selected hybrids.

Regio- e stereocontrollo nell'addizione viniloga di alchilidenossindoli a nitrostireni via organocatalisi.

The topic of this work is the simultaneous activation, promoted by 9-epi-NH2-DHQA-TU, of alkylideneoxindole and nistirene derivatives, respectively via base catalysis and hydrogen-bond catalysis. The chosen substrates, of high biological interest, are used as starting materials for a vinylogous Michael addition where we wish to control the stereochemistry of the two asymmetric carbons far away from the active site, respectively in γ and δ position. Due to the particular structure of the starting oxindoles, it is hereby presented the first variant of this reaction performed at its highest level of stereochemical complexity. It is possible as a matter of fact, to generate 24 isomers of the product. Specifically, given that the nucleophilic attack can occur from various, non equivalent regions of the starting molecule, our main goal was to achieve a complete regio- and stereocontrol of the reaction. We have verified that the reported organocatalyzed vinylogous reaction represents a valid integration of the metal-catalyzed one, since it affords highly stereochemically complex products in good to high yields and excellent optical purity.

Catalysts study of adipic acid synthesis from 1,6-hexanediol

Sustainable chemicals currently have a very limited market share due to current low production but biomass is expected to become one of the major renewable energy and fine chemicals sources in the coming years. Bearing in mind the compromise of all nations to climatic change remediation, the industries will need to use efficient catalysts and green processes to meet the requirements of emissions and efficiency. This project is expected to develop new catalysts to convert 1,6-hexanediol to adipic acid through a green approach based on the “nano-catalysis” and “green chemistry” concepts. Supported Au and Pd nanoparticles were used to study one-pot reaction of HDO oxidation to AA using O2 as a final oxidant and H2O as a solvent. Catalytic results showed that under low pressure O2 atmosphere and low temperature (< 120°C) AuNPs supported on basic-supports are more active than acid and amphoteric oxides. The effect of basic oxide (MgO) addition to MgF2 was studied. The study showed that doping of MgF2 with MgO increased significantly the activity of the catalyst. The best results were obtained with the Au/0.4MgF2-0.6MgO sample, which gave the selectivity to AA of 33% at HDO conversion of 62%.

N-Heterocyclic carbene complexes of silver, rhodium and iron: structures, dynamics and catalysis

The research performed in the framework of this Master Thesis has been directly inspired by the recent work of an organometallic research group led by Professor Maria Cristina Cassani on a topic related to the structures, dynamics and catalytic activity of N-heterocyclic carbene-amide rhodium(I) complexes1. A series of [BocNHCH2CH2ImR]X (R = Me, X = I, 1a’; R = Bz, X = Br, 1b’; R = trityl, X = Cl, 1c’) amide-functionalized imidazolium salts bearing increasingly bulky N-alkyl substituents were synthetized and characterized. Subsequently, these organic precursors were employed in the synthesis of silver(I) complexes as intermediate compounds on a way to rhodium(I) complexes [Rh(NBD)X(NHC)] (NHC = 1-(2-NHBoc-ethyl)-3-R-imidazolin-2-ylidene; X = Cl, R = Me (3a’), R = Bz (3b’), R = trityl (3c’); X = I, R = Me (4a’)). VT NMR studies of these complexes revealed a restricted rotation barriers about the metal-carbene bond. However, while the rotation barriers calculated for the complexes in which R = Me, Bz (3a’,b’ and 4a) matched the experimental values, this was not true in the trityl case 3c’, where the experimental value was very similar to that obtained for compound 3b’ and much smaller with respect to the calculated one. In addition, the energy barrier derived for 3c’ from line shape simulation showed a strong dependence on the temperature, while the barriers measured for 3a’,b’ did not show this effect. In view of these results and in order to establish the reasons for the previously found inconsistency between calculated and experimental thermodynamic data, the first objective of this master thesis was the preparation of a series of rhodium(I) complexes [Rh(NBD)X(NHC)] (NHC = 1-benzyl-3-R-imidazolin-2-ylidene; X = Cl, R = Me, Bz, trityl, tBu), containing the benzyl substituent as a chiral probe, followed by full characterization. The second objective of this work was to investigate the catalytic activity of the new rhodium compounds in the hydrosilylation of terminal alkynes for comparison purposes with the reported complexes. Another purpose of this work was to employ the prepared N-heterocyclic ligands in the synthesis of iron(II)-NHC complexes.

Theoretical and experimental studies of gold catalysts for glucose oxidation

The glucaric acid (GLA) has been identified as a “top value-added chemical from biomass” that can be employed for many uses; for instance, it could be a precursor of adipic acid, a monomer of Nylon-6,6. GLA can be synthetized by the oxidation of glucose (GLU), passing through the intermediate gluconic acid (GLO). In recent years, a new process has been sought to obtain GLA in an economic and environmental sustainable way, in order to replace the current use of HNO3 as a stoichiometric oxidant, or electrocatalysis and biochemical synthesis, which show several disadvantages. Thereby, this work is focused on the study of catalysts based on gold nanoparticles supported on activated carbon for the oxidation reaction of GLU to GLA using O2 as an oxidant agent and NaOH as base. The sol-immobilization method leads us to obtain small and well dispersed nanoparticles, characterized by UV-Vis, XRD and TEM techniques. Repeating the reaction on different batches of catalyst, both the synthesis and the reaction were confirmed to be reproducible. The effect of the reaction time feeding GLO as reagent was studied: the results show that the conversion of GLO increases as the reaction time increases; however, the yields of GLA and others increase up to 1 hour, and then they remain constant. In order to obtain information on the catalytic mechanism at the atomistic level, a computational study based on density functional theory and atomistic modeling of the gold nano-catalyst were performed. Highly symmetric (icosahedral and cubo-octahedral) and distorted Au55 nanoparticles have been optimized along with Au(111) and Au(100) surfaces. Distorted structures were found to be more stable than symmetrical ones due to relativistic effects. On these various models the adsorptions of various species involved in the catalysis have been studied, including OH- species, GLU and GLO. The study carried out aims to provide a method for approaching to the study of nanoparticellary catalytic systems.

Isoxazolidines and oxazines: preliminary studies for the synthesis of N,O-heterocyclic systems via an organocatalyzed 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddiction and a tandem reaction mediated by TEMPO salts

This thesis is the result of the study of two reactions leading to the formation of important heterocyclic compounds of potential pharmaceutical interest. The first study concerns the reaction of (1,3)-dipolar cycloaddition between nitrones and activated olefins by hydrogen bond catalysis of thioureas derivatives leading to the formation of a five-membered cyclic adducts, an interesting and strategic synthetic intermediate, for the synthesis of benzoazepine. The second project wants to explore the direct oxidative C(sp3)-H α-alkylation of simple amides with subsequent addition of an olefin and cyclization in order to obtain the corresponding oxazine. Both reactions are still under development.

Synthesis, reactivity and applications of 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitroisoxazole derivatives

3,5-dimethyl-4-nitroisoxazole derivatives are useful synthetic intermediates as the isoxazole nucleus chemically behaves as an ester, but establish better-defined interactions with chiral catalysts and lability of its N-O aromatic bond can unveil other groups such as 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds or carboxylic acids. In the present work, these features are employed in a 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitroisoxazole based synthesis of the γ-amino acid pregabalin, a medication for the treatment of epilepsy and neuropatic pain, in which this moiety is fundamental for the enantioselective formation of a chiral center by interaction with doubly-quaternized cinchona phase-transfer catalysts, whose ability of asymmetric induction will be investigated. Influence of this group in cinchona-derivatives catalysed stereoselective addition and Darzens reaction of a mono-chlorinated 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitroisoxazole and benzaldehyde will also be investigated.

Mechanochemical solvent-free synthesis of Sn-β Zeolite and Ag2O/TiO2 catalysts

Preparations of heterogeneous catalysts are usually complex processes that involve several procedures as precipitation, crystallization and hydrothermal treatments. This processes are really dependent by the operative conditions such as temperature, pH, concentration etc. Hence the resulting product is extremely affected by any possible variations in these parameters making this synthesis really fragile. With the aim to improve these operations has been decided to exploit a new possible strong environment-respectful process by mechanochemical treatment, which permits to carry out solvent free-solvent synthesis exploiting the Mixer Mill MM400 (Retsch) in order to have reproducible results. Two different systems have been studied in this kind of synthesis: a tin β -zeolite tested in a H-trasnfer reaction of cyclohexanone and a silver on titania catalyst used in the fluorination of 2,2 dimethyl glucaric acid. Each catalyst has been characterized by different techniques in order to understand the transformations involved in the mechanochemical treatment.

Preparation and assessment of immobilized laccase-based micro- and nanocatalysts for the degradation of anthropogenic compounds

Since the dawn of its presence on earth, the human being has been able to exploit the enzymes for its subsistence. More recent is the meeting between the enzymatic processes and the urgent need for technologies that aim to preserve our planet. In this field nowadays enzymatic catalysis is tested either to depollution/remediation as well as waste disposal. The work presented in this thesis, regarding both these two topics, is tailored on two European projects (EU 2020), MADFORWATER and TERMINUS respectively. Firstly, production of micro- and nanocatalysts via immobilization of laccases (a lignin-degrader enzyme) is performed. In the second part of the thesis laccase is applied to a tertiary treatment of wastewater with the aim to degrade 9 pharmaceutical active compounds in batch reactors. Despite several optimizations, poor degradation is reached and we did not proceed with the study of different bioreactor setups. Therefore, the focus is moved to a project concerning the production of smart multi-layer plastic packaging containing enzymes to improve the possibilities of recycling. In this field shielded nanocatalysts produced via coating techniques able to interact with redox mediators are investigated. The target substrate in this second project is produced in laboratory (i.e. polyurethane like compounds), starting from monomers whose degradation had already been tested, as a proof of concept. The first enzyme studied is still the laccase.

Synthesis and characterisation of electrospun gold on ceria catalysts

Cerium oxide in catalysis can be used both as support and as a catalyst itself. Ceria catalyses many oxidations reactions, its excellent catalytic properties are due to its store oxygen storage capacity (OSC) and the reticular defects present on its surface. Different morphologies expose different reticular planes, and different reticular planes can expose different amounts of defects. The preparation method of cerium oxide can influence the surface area, morphology, and the number of defects in the sample. This work is focused on different preparation methods for gold nanoparticles supported on 1D nanostructures of cerium oxide prepared via electrospinning, their XRD, DRUV-Vis and Raman characterizations, and their catalytic performance on the oxidation reaction of HMF to FDCA.

Theoretical and experimental investigations on homologation of ethanol to butanol using a ruthenium-based catalyst

The mechanism of homologation of bioethanol to butanol and higher alcohols via the Guerbet reaction was computationally and experimentally investigated. The catalytic pathway involves a ruthenium-based complex and a base co-catalyst which work simultaneously. Due to selectivity issues, secondary products were formed and high competition between main pathway and side reactions was recorded. Herein, the overall catalytic mechanism for all the processes involved in was investigated, also considering the principal side reactions, using density functional theory (DFT) methods and experiments to confirm theoretical outcomes. Due to the complexity of the reaction network, kinetic simulations were established from DFT results, confirming experimental products distribution and giving insights into the factors governing the reaction mechanism.

Theoretical and experimental study on the role of benzoquinone in the Guerbet reaction catalyzed by a ruthenium complex

The benzoquinone was found as an effective co-catalyst in the ruthenium/NaOEt-catalyzed Guerbet reaction. The co-catalyst behavior has therefore been investigated through experimental and computational methods. The reaction products distribution shows that the reaction speed is improved by the benzoquinone supplement since the beginning of the process, having a minimal effect on the selectivity toward alcoholic species. DFT calculations were performed to investigate two hypotheses for the kinetic effects: i) a hydrogen storage mechanism or ii) a basic co-catalysis of 4-hydroxiphenolate. The most promising results were found for the latter hypothesis, where a new mixed mechanism for the aldol condensation step of the Guerbet process involves the hydroquinone (i.e. the reduced form of benzoquinone) as proton source instead of ethanol. This mechanism was found to be energetically more favorable than an aldol condensation in absence of additive, suggesting that the hydroquinone derived from benzoquinone could be the key species affecting the kinetics of the overall process. To verify this theoretical hypothesis, new phenol derivatives were tested as additives in the Guerbet reaction. The outcomes confirmed that an aromatic acid (stronger than ethanol) could improve the reaction kinetics. Lastly, theoretical products distributions were simulated and compared to the experimental one, using the DFT computations to build the kinetic models.