Direct reaction between silicon and methanol over Cu-based catalysts: investigation of active species and regeneration of CuCl catalyst.

When a CuCl/Si mixture was pretreated at 200-240 °C in a N2 atmosphere, trimethoxysilane was predominantly formed in the direct reaction of silicon with methanol. When the pretreatment temperatures were raised to 260-340 °C, tetramethoxysilane was favorably formed. The Cu x Si y Cl z species catalyzed the reaction between silicon and methanol to trimethoxysilane. Chlorination of the spent CuCl/Si mixture promoted the reaction between silicon and methanol to form both trimethoxysilane and tetramethoxysilane due to the recovery of the CuCl phase and the exposure of the metallic Cu0 phase. When Cu2O, CuO, and Cu0 were used as the catalysts, tetramethoxysilane was formed as the main product.

Pd nanoparticles on a porous ionic copolymer: a highly active and recyclable catalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura reaction under air in water.

A porous copolymer of an IL with divinylbenzene was prepared and applied as a support for Pd nanoparticles. The supported Pd nanocatalyst was found to be extremely active for Suzuki-Miyaura reaction of aryl bromides and chlorides with phenylboronic acid even with 10 ppm Pd loading under air in water.

Efficient palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of aryl bromides and chlorides with phenols.

A convenient and general palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of aryl bromides and chlorides with phenols was developed. Various functional groups such as nitriles, aldehydes, ketones and esters are well tolerated and the corresponding products are obtained in good to excellent yield.