Chapter 8
Earth-Abundant d-Block Metal
Nanocatalysis for Coupling Reactions
in Polyols
Marc Camats, Daniel Pla, and Montserrat Gómez
Abstract Green Chemistry concepts have directed chemists to conceive and develop
sustainable procedures, from the starting materials choice through reaction and analysis conditions, including suitable engineering aspects, to the impact of products,
comprising recycling, and waste management. Industrial processes in Fine and Pharmaceutical Chemistry sector have high E factors compared to oil and bulk chemicals
industry. Thus, the development of catalytic methods leading to high added value
products is crucial, as well as waste minimization through selective transformations. Catalysts from 3d metals, compared to “heavy” metals, are greener, although a
combination of different approaches is needed for efficient and viable processes. In
contrast to 4d and 5d metals, catalysis with earth-abundant metals is less developed,
even less concerning nanocatalysts. Metal nanoparticles (MNPs), due to their unique
electronic and structural properties, induce original reactivities allowing a plethora of
transformations. Besides, solvents, present in most steps, represent a major economic
and environmental concern. In addition, they can have a dramatic influence on the
stabilization of MNP and hence, a huge impact on catalytic activity and recycling.
This chapter gives a perspective on 3d metal-based nanocatalysts in polyols applied
to couplings, reactions present in many methodologies to produce fine chemicals in
a sustainable fashion.
Keywords 3d metals · Metal nanoparticles · Catalysis · Couplings · Polyols
Dedicated to Prof. Guillermo Muller for his thorough contributions in Organometallic Chemistry
and Homogeneous Catalysis.
M. Camats · D. Pla · M. Gómez (B)
Laboratoire Hétérochimie Fondamentale et Appliquée (UMR 5069), Université de Toulouse,
CNRS, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
e-mail: gomez@chimie.ups-tlse.fr
D. Pla
e-mail: pla@lhfa.fr
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
P. W. N. M. van Leeuwen and C. Claver (eds.), Recent Advances in Nanoparticle Catalysis,
Molecular Catalysis 1, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45823-2_8
249
Earth-Abundant d-Block Metal
Nanocatalysis for Coupling Reactions
in Polyols
Marc Camats, Daniel Pla, and Montserrat Gómez
Abstract Green Chemistry concepts have directed chemists to conceive and develop
sustainable procedures, from the starting materials choice through reaction and analysis conditions, including suitable engineering aspects, to the impact of products,
comprising recycling, and waste management. Industrial processes in Fine and Pharmaceutical Chemistry sector have high E factors compared to oil and bulk chemicals
industry. Thus, the development of catalytic methods leading to high added value
products is crucial, as well as waste minimization through selective transformations. Catalysts from 3d metals, compared to “heavy” metals, are greener, although a
combination of different approaches is needed for efficient and viable processes. In
contrast to 4d and 5d metals, catalysis with earth-abundant metals is less developed,
even less concerning nanocatalysts. Metal nanoparticles (MNPs), due to their unique
electronic and structural properties, induce original reactivities allowing a plethora of
transformations. Besides, solvents, present in most steps, represent a major economic
and environmental concern. In addition, they can have a dramatic influence on the
stabilization of MNP and hence, a huge impact on catalytic activity and recycling.
This chapter gives a perspective on 3d metal-based nanocatalysts in polyols applied
to couplings, reactions present in many methodologies to produce fine chemicals in
a sustainable fashion.
Keywords 3d metals · Metal nanoparticles · Catalysis · Couplings · Polyols
Dedicated to Prof. Guillermo Muller for his thorough contributions in Organometallic Chemistry
and Homogeneous Catalysis.
M. Camats · D. Pla · M. Gómez (B)
Laboratoire Hétérochimie Fondamentale et Appliquée (UMR 5069), Université de Toulouse,
CNRS, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse Cedex 9, France
e-mail: gomez@chimie.ups-tlse.fr
D. Pla
e-mail: pla@lhfa.fr
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
P. W. N. M. van Leeuwen and C. Claver (eds.), Recent Advances in Nanoparticle Catalysis,
Molecular Catalysis 1, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45823-2_8
249