Discovering Hidden Nanocluster Catalysis

无机，生物无机和有机化学计划的这个奖项支持了Richard G. Finke在科罗拉多州立大学进行的研究，以区分真正的均相催化剂和隐藏的纳米团簇或其他非均相催化剂。 待研究的系统跨越一系列催化反应，其中催化剂是均相的还是非均相的纳米催化剂的问题仍然没有答案。 待研究的反应包括：芳烃加氢、烷烃活化和官能化、镍基聚合物加氢、溶胶-凝胶包埋催化剂和离子液体催化。 该研究小组采用5步法，可以更快速可靠地确定真正催化剂的性质。 本研究试图通过研究纳米团簇作为均相和多相催化之间的关键概念桥梁，建立多金属纳米团簇或其他多相催化剂从单均相预催化剂形成的“规则”。这项研究将影响催化科学的发现和理解。 让妇女和代表性不足群体的学生参与强调旨在区分不同假设的实验的项目，也将对教学、培训和学习产生影响。 与其他大学的4名研究人员和一家工业公司的伙伴关系预计将加强科学和教育基础设施。

This award in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry program supports research by Dr. Richard G. Finke at Colorado State University to distinguish between true homogeneous catalysts and hidden nanocluster or other heterogeneous catalysts. Systems to be studied span a range of catalytic reactions where the question of whether the catalyst is homogeneous or a hetereogeneous nanocatalyst remains unanswered. Reactions to be studied include: arene hydrogenation, alkane activation and functionalization, nickel-based polymer hydrogenations, sol-gel entrapped catalysts, and catalysis in ionic liquids. This research group employs a 5-step method allowing the nature of the true catalyst to be established more rapidly and reliably. This study endeavors to establish the "rules" whereby polymetallic nanocluster or other heterogeneous catalysts are formed from monometallic homogeneous precatalysts by investigating nanoclusters as a key conceptual bridge between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. This research will impact discovery and understanding in the science of catalysis. Teaching, training and learning will also be impacted by involving women and students from underrepresented groups in projects that emphasize experiments aimed at distinguishing between alternative hypotheses. Partnerships with 4 researchers at other universities and with an industrial company are expected to enhance science and education infrastructure.