New catalysts for clean technology

The preparation, characterisation and catalytic performance of both bimetallic nanoparticles and chiral homogeneous catalysts anchored along the interior walls of mesoporous silica (MCM-41) are described. The bimetallic nanoparticles are prepared from Ru6Pd6 and Ru6CSn carbonyl clusters and the resulting MCM derivatives are characterised by a number of methods, including EXAFS, FTIR and STEM. The solvent-free hydrogenation of naphthalene and cyclic polyenes using these catalysts are described, with the Ru6CSn based catalyst giving a 90% selectivity for the corresponding monoenes while the Ru6Pd6 produces the fully hydrogenated product in high yield. The homogeneous catalysts 1-[-(R)-1′-2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]ethyl-N-N′-dimethylethylenediamine palladium dichloride was heterogenised by anchoring along the inside walls of MCM-41. The catalysed reaction between cinnamylacetate and benzylamine was studied and the catalyst produced 51% of the branched chain product possibly with 100%ee.