Synergism between iron porphyrin and dicationic ionic liquids: tandem CO2 electroreduction-carbonylation reactions.

Here, we report a simple procedure that drastically reduces the electrochemical E(FeI/Fe0) and E0cat of the commercially available iron(III) tetraphenylporphyrin chloride (FeIIITPP·Cl) catalyst via a synergetic effect with the imidazolium dications of the ionic liquid electrolyte. This procedure enhanced the performance of catalytic systems in the electrochemical production of CO and enabled us to perform different tandem CO2 reduction-carbonylation reactions under mild conditions.

A General One-Pot Methodology for the Preparation of Mono- and Bimetallic Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanotubes: Application in the Semi-hydrogenation of Alkynes and Acetylene.

A facile and straightforward methodology for the preparation of monometallic (copper and palladium) and bimetallic nanocatalysts (NiCu and PdCu) stabilized by a N-heterocyclic carbene ligand is reported. Both colloidal and supported nanoparticles (NPs) on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared in a one-pot synthesis with outstanding control on their size, morphology and composition. These catalysts were evaluated in the selective hydrogenation of alkynes and alkynols. PdCu/CNTs revealed an efficient catalytic system providing high selectivity in the hydrogenation of terminal and internal alkynes. Moreover, this catalyst was tested in the semi-hydrogenation of acetylene in industrially relevant acetylene/ethylene-rich model gas feeds and showed excellent stability even after 40 h of reaction.

Activation of carboxylic acids in asymmetric organocatalysis.

Organocatalysis, catalysis using small organic molecules, has recently evolved into a general approach for asymmetric synthesis, complementing both metal catalysis and biocatalysis. Its success relies to a large extent upon the introduction of novel and generic activation modes. Remarkably though, while carboxylic acids have been used as catalyst directing groups in supramolecular transition-metal catalysis, a general and well-defined activation mode for this useful and abundant substance class is still lacking. Herein we propose the heterodimeric association of carboxylic acids with chiral phosphoric acid catalysts as a new activation principle for organocatalysis. This self-assembly increases both the acidity of the phosphoric acid catalyst and the reactivity of the carboxylic acid. To illustrate this principle, we apply our concept in a general and highly enantioselective catalytic aziridine-opening reaction with carboxylic acids as nucleophiles.