1. Selective Catalysis by Nanoparticles in Multilayer Polyelectrolyte Films
Merlin L. Bruening, Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University
Selective alkene hydrogenation: Catalytic nanoparticles in multilayer polyelectrolyte films on alumina show remarkable intramolecular selectivity for hydrogenation of monosubstituted double bonds. Selectivity relative to hydrogenation of di or trisubstituted double bonds is greater than that of Wilkinson’s catalyst, which is the prototype homogenous catalyst for such reactions.
Alumina O H O H X
= Pd nanoparticle
Alumina
Alumina
Alumina
Alumina
= polyanion H2 H2
= polyamine O H O H
Selective reduction of nitro groups in catalytic membranes: Deposition of polyelectrolyte/nanoparticle films in porous alumina yields catalytic membranes. The nanoparticles allow reduction of aromatic nitro groups in the presence of other functional groups, and control over flow rate determines whether the product is predominantly the amino or nitroso compound.
NO2
NH2 NO R
+ NaBH4 R or R