Page 180 - CW E-Magazine (26-9-2023)

Special Report

conversion of alkenyl bonds into car- Catalytic static mixers (CSMs) compounds can be substrates. This work
bonyl groups in a highly selective way. for flexible and scalable hydro- had started with THF and phenol under
This appears to be useful strategy and genation reactions in continuous CO pressure. (J. Catalysis, 2022, 414,
highly sensitive functional groups can 84-89; DOI:10.1016/j.cat.2022.08.034).
be handled. (Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed.; flow
DOI: 10.1002/anie.202213772). J.D. Williams and C.O. Kappe have Advancing critical chemical pro-
Process development of tri- come out with a new strategy to carry cesses for a sustainable future:
phasic continuous flow Suzuki- out catalytic hydrogenations in continu- Challenges for industry and
Miyaura coupling reaction in a ous mode. The method of making CSMs the Max Planck-Cardiff Centre
plug flow reactor is reported. The low catalyst loading on the fundamentals of hetero-
and high activity and stability has made
B. Li et al have carried out the title a convincing case to adopt such reac- geneous catalysis (FUNCAT)
reaction involving two liquid phases and tors. These reactors are an alternative to M. Bowker et al have given an account
an insoluble catalyst as a solid phase. packed bed reactors. (Chemistry Today of FUNCAT in the title research centre.
This reaction requires very rapid reac- (Chemica Oggi), 40, No.4). Challenges are e.g., in green H produc-
2
tion heat up and mixing, which are diffi- tion, NH synthesis, hydrogenation of
3
cult to realise under batch conditions. A Zeolite catalysts for green pro- CO , and acetylene chemistry. We need
2
plug flow reactor with a static mixer was duction of caprolactam (C) to recognise that catalysis is involved
used. This is feasible due to high velo- in around 85% of manufacturing indus-
city flow rates and fast reaction kinetics. H. Wang et al have reviewed the cata- try and contributes an estimated 25%
Isoquinolinone boronate was the starting lytic performances of different zeolites, to the gross domestic product, with
reactant. (Org. Proc. Res. Dev., 2022; DOI: and its advantages over homogeneous the majority of processes relying on
10.1021/acs.oprd.2c00278). systems are stressed. The guide for heterogeneous catalysis. The centre is
more efficient zeolite catalysts is dis- targeted at developing innovative con-
Direct oxygen transfer from cussed. (Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2022; cepts that can contribute to scientific
H O to cyclooctene over elec- DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.2c01693). development with net zero greenhouse
2
tron-rich RuO nanocrystals Cobalt-catalysed alkoxycarbony emissions. The current and future chal-
2
for epoxidation and hydrogen lation of ethers: Direct synthe- lenges are discussed, including aspects
evolution of circular economy. The object is to
sis of α-oxy esters from phenols focus explicitly on critical processes
X. Lin et al have mentioned that globally and alcohols enumerated above. (Angew. Chem. Intl.
20-mtpa of epoxides are made from Ed.; DOI: 10.1002/anie.202209016).
olefins and the processes do suffer from L-C. Wang et al have worked on the
low atom economy due to the use of title subject and the new catalytic sys- Sustainable Wacker-type oxi-
oxidants and complex catalysts with un- tem allows the use of ethers. A variety of dations
satisfied selectivity. A proof-of-concept phenols and alcohols were transformed [Late 1950’s and early 1960’s saw the
application is suggested, where electron- to the corresponding α-oxy ester deriva- breakthrough Wacker-type processes,
rich RuO nanocrystals are used for tives in high yields with excellent func- which would displace acetylene-based
2
the highly selective title reaction. The tional group tolerance. Several pharma- processes (Reppe processes) and included
mechanism is explained. This is carried ceutical and bioactive molecule related ethylene to acetaldehyde, ethylene +
out at room temperature and H is co-
2
product. (Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed.; DOI:
10.1002/anie.202207108).

180 Chemical Weekly September 26, 2023

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