Wilkinson‐Type Immobilized Catalyst on Diamond Nanoparticles for Alkene Reduction

• Published in: ChemCatChem 2017-02, Vol.9 (3), p.432-439
• Main Authors: Queffélec, Clémence, Schlindwein, Simon H., Gudat, Dietrich, Silvestre, Virginie, Rodriguez‐Zubiri, Mireia, Fayon, Franck, Bujoli, Bruno, Wang, Qi, Boukherroub, Rabah, Szunerits, Sabine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; hydrogenation; immobilization; Material chemistry; nanoparticles; P ligands; rhodium; Spectrum analysis; X-rays
• ISSN: 1867-3880; 1867-3899; 1867-3899
• DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201601424

The immobilization of heterogeneous catalysts on solid support materials is an important task of current catalytic and materials science research. We report here the development of a diamond nanoparticles‐based Wilkinson's type catalyst for the reduction of olefins to saturated hydrocarbons. The strategy is based on the formation of rhodium(I)‐modified nanodiamonds (NDs–Rh) using a surface‐immobilized catechol phosphane ligand, to which rhodium metal centers can be coordinated. The resulting material was characterized by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and TEM before testing the catalytic efficiency of the catalyst. Excellent hydrogenation efficiency with yields in the range of 85–99 % could be obtained with these new NDs–Rh catalysts, which showed in addition good recyclability without loss of activity. Hybrid diamond for hydrogenation: The grafting of a catechol phosphane ligand onto diamond nanoparticles followed by the coordination into chloro(1,5‐cyclooctadiene)rhodium complex generates a Wilkinson‐type catalyst for olefin hydrogenation. These particles are highly efficient and reusable heterogeneous catalysts with a good recyclability and without loss of activity.